Participatory, Immersive Theater Piece Draws Inspiration from French Artist Sophie Calle; Places Audiences in Unfolding Spy Narrative
“Mesmerizing theatre for the 21st century.” —Flavorpill
In association with the exhibition Sophie Calle: Overshare, opening on October 26, the Walker Art Center presents TRACES (after Sophie Calle), a participatory, immersive theater piece. Inspired by the French artist’s lifelong opus, the collaborative project is developed by Minneapolis-based playwright Rachel Jendrzejewski and Ivan Talijancić of the Brooklyn-based experimental theater company WaxFactory. TRACES runs from October 28 through November 11.
The roving, site-specific work follows a fictional character across a series of public locations throughout Downtown Minneapolis. In intimate, one-on-one encounters, lone audience members trace her journey, documenting their experiences via audio, photo, and video—ultimately reflecting the nature of mortality and human connection. Fragments of surveillance footage from select live performances of TRACES will be on view in an immersive video installation at the University of Minnesota’s Regis Center for Art. The video installation runs from October 29 through November 14, and gallery admission is free.
As part of the Walker’s multidisciplinary approach and commitment to presenting groundbreaking work across genre, the TRACES expands on Calle’s ongoing interest in narrative, social experiments, and exploring human reactions to everyday happenings and emotions.
WaxFactory: TRACES (after Sophie Calle)
October 28–November 11, 2024
Throughout downtown Minneapolis
$60 ($48 Walker members)
ABOUT RACHEL JENDRZEJEWSKI
Rachel Jendrzejewski is a writer who frequently collaborates with choreographers, musicians, and visual artists to unpack wide-ranging performative vocabularies. These projects have been developed and/or presented by the Walker Art Center, Red Eye Theater, Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Tricklock Company, Los Angeles Performance Practice, the Theatre at the Ace Hotel, Wild Project, Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, Rhode Island School of Design, ICA/Boston, and MASS MoCA, among others. Publications include encyclopedia (Spout Press), In Which _______ and Others Discover the End (a collaboration with SuperGroup; Plays Inverse), and Amber (in the anthology I Might Be the Person You Are Talking To; Padua Playwrights). Rachel has a decade-long relationship with Playwrights’ Center, where she’s received support as a Jerome Fellow, McKnight Fellow, and Core Writer. She is the Co-Artistic Director at Red Eye Theater.
ABOUT IVAN TALIJANČIĆ
Ivan Talijančić is a time-based artist and cultural producer, working at the intersection of theater, dance, film, installation art, new media, journalism, curatorial work, and education in New York and around the globe. He is the artistic co-director of the multidisciplinary art group WaxFactory. His work has been presented around the US and at numerous international venues and festivals such as the ICA/Institute of Contemporary Arts (London), Centre Pompidou (Paris), Lincoln Center (New York City), Gulbenkian Museum (Lisbon), Zürcher Theater Spektakel (Zurich, Switzerland), FIT/Festival Internacional de Teatro (Caracas, Venezuela), Sonar (Barcelona, Spain), and Adelaide Festival (Australia) among others. He is currently completing post-production on his first narrative feature film, 416 MINUTES, and developing his second screenplay, ID. Ivan is currently a Program Director of Collaborative Theatre Making MA/MFA and International Theatre Practice and Performance MFA at the Rose Bruford College in London, UK.
ABOUT SOPHIE CALLE: OVERSHARE
Sophie Calle: Overshare is an extended rumination on the paradoxes of self-disclosure, in all its truths and fictions. For the past five decades, French conceptual artist Sophie Calle has mined her own life to provocative effect. Drawing on intimate relationships and chance encounters, Calle’s work anticipates the personality-driven, voyeuristic nature of contemporary culture. Comprising photography, text, video, and installation work, Sophie Calle: Overshare marks the first North American survey to display the breadth and depth of Calle’s artistic career.
TICKETS
Ordering tickets is easy: visit walkerart.org/tickets or call 612.375.7600. Prices include all applicable fees. Box Office is open Wednesday–Sunday.
Please note: The final TRACES performance on each day of the run is prioritized for individuals with disabilities or access needs (including, but not limited to, hearing, vision, mobility, sensory, or other needs). Participants will have the opportunity to share any relevant information about their access requirements during checkout.
By purchasing a ticket, participants are agreeing to a highly individualized experience serving as an informant to a private investigation, which will unfold at various locations in downtown Minneapolis.
ACCESSIBILITY
This performance experience is created for one audience member at a time based on access needs. It is highly interactive and moves throughout downtown Minneapolis streets, buildings, and into vehicles. The final TRACES performance on each day of the run is prioritized for individuals with disabilities or access needs (including, but not limited to, hearing, vision, mobility, sensory, or other needs). Participants will have the opportunity to share any relevant information about their access requirements during checkout.
For more information about accessibility, visit our Access page.
For questions on accessibility, content and sensory notes, or to request additional accommodations, call 612.253.3556 or email access@walkerart.org.
PRESHOW INFORMATION
This performance is created for one audience member at a time. It takes place in site-specific locations throughout downtown Minneapolis and is a highly participatory and interactive experience. Within 48 hours of purchase, participants will receive a text message linking to the TRACES website for more information. This is the beginning of the experience. Prior to the performance start, they will be given further instructions.
SPY ON TRACES
View fragmented surveillance footage from select live performances of TRACES through an immersive video installation at the University of Minnesota’s Regis Center for Art. The installation is on view October 29 through November 14, and gallery admission is free.
MEMBERS DO MORE
Become a member and enjoy a 20% discount on performance tickets, receive unlimited free gallery admission, and more. Call 612.375.7655 or visit walkerart.org/membership.
Acknowledgments
Support provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and by Villa Albertine and Albertine Foundation.
The Walker Art Center’s Performing Arts programs are made possible by generous support from the Doris Duke Foundation through the Doris Duke Performing Arts Fund, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Producers Council
Performing Arts programs and commissions at the Walker are generously supported by members of the Producers Council: Christina Evans and Weston Hoard; Nor Hall and Roger Hale; Judith Brin Ingber and Jerome Ingber; Neal Jahren; King’s Fountain/Barbara Watson Pillsbury; Sarah Lutman and Rob Rudolph; Emily Maltz; Leni and David Moore, Jr./The David and Leni Moore Family Foundation; Therese Sexe and David Hage; and Mike and Elizabeth Sweeney.
Media partner
Exhibition support
Sophie Calle: Overshare is organized by the Walker Art Center, with major support provided by Martha and Bruce Atwater. Additional support is provided by Carol and Judson Bemis, Jr.; Etant donnés, a program of Villa Albertine; Karen and Ken Heithoff; Diana Nelson and John Atwater; Idee German Schoenheimer; and Susan and Rob White.