Freedom in Failure: “That’s how the light gets in"

This program is hosted by Roberto Ascalon and Amos Miller with musical support from @LOVECITYLOVE.

“There’s a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in” - Leonard Cohen, Anthem

Can’t you feel it? 

Something huge and unnameable is shifting around us - as if some essential thing in our world has reached a final tipping point and is about to snap. 

What happens after things break? 

Inspired by the process of regeneration and rebirth embodied in Raúl de Nieves: A window to the see, a spirit star chiming in the wind of wonder… currently on view at the Henry, we will conjure the power and possibilities of imminent failure in an experimental combination of poetry craft talk, courageous conversation, community freestyle, improv music, and facilitated dialogue. 

Bring your own poetry, song, and movement and join us as we explore the freedom in failure, fundamental to art-making and life. 

Born in New York City, Roberto Ascalon has lived in Seattle for over 22 years. He is a Kundiman, Jack Straw, and Artist Trust fellow, a two-time Seattle Slam Team member, and the winner of the 2013 Rattle Poetry Prize for the poem “The Fire This Time, or, How Come Some Brown Boys Get Blazed Right Before Class And Other Questions Without Marks” which earned him a Pushcart nomination. His residencies have led to multimedia exhibitions at the Frye Art Museum, the Seattle Art Museum, and The Museum of History and Industry and earned him a trip to the White House where had the honor of shaking hands with President Obama. He currently teaches with The Greater Seattle Bureau of Fearless Ideas. Find Ascalon on Instagram and Facebook.

Amos Miller is an acclaimed Seattle producer and Grammy nominee. His newest opus, SuperSquare, immerses the listener in a visceral soundscape, with sensibilities ranging from hip-hop to jazz and beyond. It is brought to life with the fiercely talented musicians of Love City Love, the acclaimed ensemble Miller curated, whose members are at the core of Seattle's cultural scene. Miller uses 4-part harmonies, heavy bass, trap beats, tibetan bowl playing, spoken word, and 8 bit synthesizer programming to create a space of reflection, discord, and healing. The 22 tracks are short vignettes that weave into the next, blending tempos, chord progressions, and lyrical content. Each song becomes a movement in the overarching composition that is the whole album. Miller crafts organic textures and ethereal tones, juxtaposing a wild imagination with nuance and restraint, resulting in a pulsing and dynamic musical experience. The album features production work from platinum selling producer Jake One, the futuristic sounds of Jahon Mikal, vocal performances by Adra Boo and Hanna Benn, and live instrumentation by Evan Flory-Barnes and many more. Miller’s extensive production credits include Macklemore, T.I., and Tuxedo. Miller facilitates music production workshops that aim to empower youth in Seattle, WA. He was honored for his work in the community by attending “In Performance At The White House: A Celebration of Music from Civil Rights Movement” in Washington D.C. Find Miller on Instagram and Facebook.