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Beware of The Dandelions Covered in Art + Seek

Posted on December 01, 2015

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Theater Jones Review: Complex Movements: Beware of the Dandelions | Ignite/Arts Dallas

Posted on November 22, 2015

Janice L. Franklin recently reviewed Beware of the Dandelions for Theater Jones. See what she had to say below:

" Detroit's Complex Movements offers an unforgettable immersive performance and visual art experience with Beware of the Dandelions in Fair Park, in SMU's Arts and Urbanism initiative. 

Read the full article here.

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HowlRound: Complex Movements’ Beware of the Dandelions

Posted on November 19, 2015

Author and scholar Jeff Chang covered Beware of the Dandelions in HowlRound. In the piece he gives an in-depth account of the performance from a participant's perspective, and weaves in context from members of the Complex Movements advisory circle, such as Patrisse Marie Cullors, Walidah Imarisha, Adrienne Maree Brown, Charity Hicks, and Grace Lee Boggs.

Read the full article here.

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Complex: Complex Movements

Posted on November 19, 2015

Complex covered Complex Movements' residency in Dallas earlier this week:

"Complex Movements is a rising artist collective out of Detroit that's making major noise right now. The group consists of the very talented Invincible, Waajeed​, Wes Taylor, Carlos Garcia, and additional contributions from Sage Crump and Aaron Jones. As one, the group brings together their communities through multimedia interactive performances that explore the connections of social injustice and complex science."

Read the full article here.

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Theater Jones: Complex Like That

Posted on November 19, 2015

Theater Jones recently published an in-depth interview with three members of Complex Movements, Sage, ill, and Waajeed. In the article, the team discusses some of the principles and philosophy underlying the Beware of the Dandelions project, as well as the emergent connections between Dallas and Detroit that they have encountered.

"One of the things we appreciate about this project is how layered it is. In the midst of talking about getting to the real stories of a place and what is happening there, we had no idea of Dallas until this project. It has been amazing to learn about the history of activism in Dallas and to establish connections with people."

Read the full article here.

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“Stolen Birthdays” and “Fused Lens” kick off community event series of Complex Movements' Dallas engagement

Posted on November 11, 2015

In each city in which the Beware of The Dandelions multimedia interactive art installation is presented, artist collective Complex Movements initiates a community engagement strategy. This strategy begins with building a community cohort and an advisory circle consisting of artists, organizers, and other community members. We listen and learn about community resistance and resilience in the face of challenges, and exchange stories and strategies between each city and Detroit.

Learn more about Complex Movements’ media-based organizing and touring model here.

Our process took roots in Dallas almost two years ago, when we started working with our Dallas cohort coordinators Jodi Voice (American Indian Heritage Day in Texas Committee) and Sara Mokuria (Mothers Against Police Brutality). We are honored to uplift both of their important projects as part of the launch of the Dallas Beware of the Dandelions month-long engagement in Dallas this coming weekend. More info about both events and the organizations is below.

Stolen Birthdays: In support of Mothers Against Police Brutality

Friday, November 13, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Sandaga 813, 813 Exposition Ave, Dallas, TX 75226. Suggested donation: $5 - $25 to benefit Mothers Against Police Brutality. (no one turned away). More information on Facebook.

 Featuring:

    •    Jeedo X and Invincible/ill (Complex Movements)

    •    Comanche Thunder

    •    PS the Rebels

    •    -topic

    •    King Shakur

    •    Edyka Chilomé

    •    7 Knuckles

    •    Prof D

    •    Rafael Tamayo

    •    Dezi 5

    •    Brandon L. Jackson

    •    The Poliiitic

    •    B Randall

    •    Leo G

    •    Journeyman Ink

    •    Rage Almighty

    •    Verb Kulture

    •    DJ QUEEN AGNES


Hosted by:

    •    Members of Mothers Against Police Brutality

    •    Sage Crump of Complex Movements

    •    Studology 101

In the video above, Sara Mokuria speaks on her experience with Dallas police violence stealing her father’s life, as she advocates for justice on behalf of Ruben Garcia (who was murdered by Police during the time of Complex Movements’ residency in Dallas last February).

Fused Lens: Profiles in History

Saturday, November 14, 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Oak Cliff Cultural Center 223 W. Jefferson Blvd. Dallas, TX 75202. More information on Facebook.

Join American Indian Heritage Day in Texas and enjoy our film presentation for Fused Lens: Profiles in History, focused on American Indian Boarding Schools. We aim to create awareness and provide education for American Indian issues to all people, through bridging the gap between history and personal experience. For the past year, American Indian Heritage Day in Texas has been compiling stories to spread messages that fuse generations into a time capsule recording.

In the video below, hear Jodi Voice and other Dallas-based Indigenous community members speak about current advocacy efforts for their community, including establishing American Indian Heritage Day in Texas, and advocating for removal of Dallas school mascots that misappropriated Native identity.

Complex Movements' Beware of the Dandelions Opens in Dallas presented by Ignite/Arts Dallas

Posted on November 11, 2015

Complex Movements' Beware of The Dandelions is a performance-based architectural installation that incorporates music, animation, gaming, projection, science fiction, community stories, workshops, and social justice organizing.

After launching the rolling premiere of this project in Seattle last April, we are excited to introduce this work to our communities in Dallas. For over two years we have been working with Ignite/Arts Dallas as well as many brilliant artists, activists, and community members in Dallas to bring this engagement to life. Our community coordinators and local cohort partners have been instrumental in shaping this process. We will be sharing news and stories from our local partners so please stay tuned. 

Beware of the Dandelions is a mobile art installation that functions as a performance, workshop space, and visual arts exhibition. The piece is created at the intersection of community organizing, visual design, hip-hop and electronic music, architecture, and theater. The experience occurs inside a 400 square foot polyhedron dome-like pod structure. In this science fiction parable, the audience plays the role of post-apocalyptic survivors and unlocks the untold stories of their community.

Tickets for our feature performances are extremely limited and going fast! Tickets are free, but need to be reserved in advance.

reserve tickets

Beware of the Dandelions will be in Dallas for a four week engagement. The schedule includes 10 performances and 5 community events. Read on for the full schedule of feature performances, special events, plus a list of related social justice and arts events in Dallas. Accessibility information for Complex Movements-organized events is here.

Beware of The Dandelions Feature Performances

Thursday, November 19, 7:30 p.m. (doors) / 8:00 p.m. (start)
Friday, November 20, 7:30 p.m. (doors) / 8:00 p.m. (start)
Saturday, November 21, 3:30 p.m. (doors) / 4:00 p.m. (start)
Saturday, November 21, 7:30 p.m. (doors) / 8:00 p.m. (start)
Sunday, November 22, 3:30 p.m. (doors) / 4:00 p.m. (start)
Sunday, November 22, 7:30 p.m. (doors) / 8:00 p.m. (start)   
Thursday, December 3, 7:30 p.m. (doors) / 8:00 p.m. (start)
Friday, December 4, 7:30 p.m. (doors) / 8:00 p.m. (start)
Saturday, December 5, 3:30 p.m. (doors) / 4:00 p.m. (start)
Saturday, December 5, 7:30 p.m. (doors) / 8:00 p.m. (start)   

reserve tickets

All performances take place at Fair Park’s Tower Building 3809 Grand Ave, Dallas, TX 75210.

Once a show is sold out a waiting list will open up on a first come first served basis starting 30 minutes before the doors open. Once the show starts there is no entering and exiting.

Beware of the Dandelions Installation Schedule

The Beware of the Dandelions installation maps community stories of resilience and resistance. During each installation viewing we will host a facilitated dialogue on movement memories from Dallas, Detroit, and Seattle, and how these relate to to current and local community-led social justice strategies. Each of these events is an opportunity to view the installation and engage in community dialogue.

Tuesday, November 24, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (hosted by Tisha Crear of SusuEco)
Friday, November 27, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (hosted by Ramon Mejia of SOL/CAIR)
Saturday, November 28, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (hosted by Jodi Voice of AIHD/SOL/NICE)

Accessibility Information

For all performance and installation events:

• The venue is wheelchair accessible, as is the Beware of the Dandelions installation.

• During the Beware of the Dandelions performance, a limited number of chairs are available upon request for people with physical/medical disabilities.

• The performance includes 3-D elements and strobe lighting effects which can cause seizures in persons with photosensitive epilepsy or other medical conditions. Beware of the Dandelions is not recommended for people with photosensitive medical conditions.


• All gender restrooms are available.

• Attendees are asked to please avoid wearing scents in consideration of other attendees with chemical sensitivity.

Special Community Events

The events listed below have been organized by Complex Movements in partnership with the Dallas Complex Movements Cohort.

Stolen Birthdays: In support of Mothers Against Police Brutality

Friday, November 13, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Sandaga 813, 813 Exposition Ave, Dallas, TX 75226. Suggested donation: $5 - $25 (no one turned away). More information on Facebook.

Featuring:

    •    Jeedo X and Invincible/ill (Complex Movements)

    •    Comanche Thunder

    •    PS the Rebels

    •    -topic

    •    King Shakur

    •    Edyka Chilomé

    •    7 Knuckles

    •    Prof D

    •    Rafael Tamayo

    •    Dezi 5

    •    Brandon L. Jackson

    •    The Poliiitic

    •    B Randall

    •    Leo G

    •    Journeyman Ink

    •    Rage Almighty

    •    Verb Kulture

    •    DJ QUEEN AGNES


Hosted by:

    •    Members of Mothers Against Police Brutality

    •    Sage Crump of Complex Movements

    •    Studology 101

Resisting Displacement/Building Community: From Oak Cliff, to Vickery Meadow, to Detroit

Wednesday, December 2, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Oak Cliff Cultural Center, 223 W. Jefferson Blvd. Dallas, TX 75202.

How can neighborhoods grow without displacement? What is the role of arts, media, and storytelling in keeping culture and communities from being erased? At the same time the Bishop Arts district development threatens to displace longtime Oak Cliff community members, residents in Vickery Meadow are facing a lack of tenants rights in their housing complexes. This session will convene members from these and other Dallas neighborhoods, as well as members of Complex Movements from Detroit, to share stories and strategies of how to resist being uprooted while growing the resilience of their communities. Featuring Texas Tenants Union, SusuEco, SOL, Trans.lation, American Indian Heritage Day in Texas Committee, North Texas Dream Team, and more.

Social Justice and Community Events in Dallas

In addition to events featuring and organized by Complex Movements, we have been working with our community coordinators and cohort to identify Dallas social justice and culturally-rooted events taking place while we are in town. These are not events that we have organized, but are included as we intend to support and uplift this powerful local work. Your attendance is encouraged!

Fused Lens: Profiles in History

Saturday, November 14, 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Oak Cliff Cultural Center 223 W. Jefferson Blvd. Dallas, TX 75202. More info on Facebook.

Join American Indian Heritage Day in Texas and enjoy our film presentation for Fused Lens: Profiles in History, focused on American Indian Boarding Schools. We aim to create awareness and provide education for American Indian issues to all people, through bridging the gap between history and personal experience. For the past year, American Indian Heritage Day in Texas has been compilling stories to spread messages that fuse generations into a time capsule recording.

DaVerse Lounge

Friday, November 20, 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. at Life in Deep Ellum, 2803 Taylor St., Dallas, TX 75226. More info on Facebook.

Spoken Word. DJ Demos. Live Art. A creative experience for ages 21 and under, presented by Big Thought and Journeyman Ink. Shows are free and open to the public. For more information, call (469) 621-8960.

Blood Wedding Presented by Cara Mia Theater Company

November 21 – December 13, 2015 at Latino Cultural Center: 2600 Live Oak Dallas, TX 75204. More info on Facebook and click here to buy tickets.

Written by Federico García Lorca and directed by David Lozano. Performed in English with some Spanish. Cara Mía takes on this classic play by one of Spain's most beloved poets and playwrights, Federico García Lorca. When a young bride abandons her groom on their wedding day, she flees into the forest with another man while the groom and his family rush after them in hot pursuit. Performed mostly in English and partly in Lorca’s original Spanish, Cara Mía brings this surreal folk tale of desire and passion to life. You won’t want to miss this rare chance to see this classic performed by North Texas' premiere Latino theatre company.

Bring Your Own Vinyl- BYOV

Tuesday, December 1, 9:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. at The Crown and Harp 1914 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206. More info on Facebook.

Presented by Classic Tuesdays with 5-D. From casual collector to serious DJs the turntables will be open to everyone for a night of great music. U bring it, U spin it!  Guest DJ: Jeedo X (Dirt Tech Reck/Complex Movements)