Making "Truce" - Takoma Park, MD

Last week, Call Your Mom set out on a weekend retreat to film our newest screen dance, Truce, which is set to premiere at the Janet and Walter Sondheim Semifinalist Exhibition. The piece will show alongside the 17 other semifinalists for the Sondheim Prize at Artscape. 

Over the course of the retreat, we spent time choreographing, writing dialogue, and filming outdoors. We worked with videographer Nate Gregorio to gather shots, which we will edit into a 2-channel visual and auditory installation. The dialogue and accompanying visuals will mimic two people's internal dialogues in conflict. We want it to feel a bit one-sided, as though the participants aren’t truly listening to one another. We are interested in exploring how people and groups of people come to compromises in the face of complex conflict. The installation will invite viewers to sit and listen to the two audio channels through two separate sets of headphones, placed diagonally across from one another. The two speakers will have a few repeated lines between them, but most of the things they say will contradict the other. For example, one person says “They’re putting their feelings before a solution,” while the other says “They’re putting words in my mouth.” Or, “We both made mistakes. We did this together,” vs. “This isn’t bringing out the best in me.” ​

These statements are meant to highlight how difficult it can be to come to a consensus that accounts for all perspectives within a conflict. The show will be open July 18-August 17 (with a reception August 1, 5-9pm) at One Charles Center, located at 100 N. Charles St. We hope to see you there! ​