Riis Settlement recently had the opportunity to participate in a truly unique art experience called The Mile-Long Opera: a choral work that drew on the experiences and personal stories of over 800 New Yorkers to present a biography of life at 7 o clock. The work was performed on the High Line from October 3-7 and featured over 1,000 talented singers from all across the five boroughs. Riis Settlement was one of seven non-profit and cultural organizations that were invited to serve as anchor partners in the project and collaborate on a number of community-based events in the lead up to the performances.
The first event hosted by Riis Settlement and The Mile-Long Opera was Circle Sing Shout, a workshop in which participants were invited to experience community, connection, and openness through the forms of call-and-response and rhythm, improvisation, and movement. The workshop was facilitated by Haitian-American artist Goussy Celestin and inspired by the traditions of ring shout and Haitian rara. The second event was an Autobiography of Queensbridge and the Rapidly Changing City, an interactive community conversation that was held in partnership with LaGuardia Community College and the Wagner Archives. The evening began with the airing of a trailer from LaGuardia’s oral history documentary, Voices of Queensbridge, which features interviews with a number of Queensbridge residents. Participants were then invited to reflect upon what they heard in the trailer and share their own personal thoughts on change in their community.
As an anchor partner, Riis Settlement was given its very own “night out at the opera”! A group of twenty-five community members and staff attended a performance on October 5th and the experience was truly a rewarding one. Attendee Marilyn Jones said, “the experience was out of this world” and Audrey Hilliard was so inspired by the event that she sang its praises, literally! We would like to extend a big thank you to the Mile-Long Opera for giving Riis Settlement and our community the opportunity to participate in the arts in such a special way.
