GARBAGE TEXTS is a text-centered sound and movement workshop by artist Barnett Cohen. The workshop engages the intuitive, the poetic, and the prolific. Participants will explore text as material for movement by generating their own writing, embodying vowels, and sounding out consonants.

During the workshop, participants will transcribe the details of their days, turn these days into poems, and then turn the poems into sound and movement. Through a structured set of prompts, participants will dip below surface meaning and dig into their individual undergrounds. They will exchange words with each other, listening to their inside voices made outside. As participants let go of legibility and punctuation, their words will morph into pure acoustical presence. From there, they will trawl the formless space between sound and movement and make some shapes. This workshop is for everyone and especially the language-curious. Everyone of all abilities and experience is encouraged to attend.

This free event is open to everyone, regardless of writing or movement experience, and we especially encourage those with no prior experience to join. The workshop will focus primarily on text, with light movement incorporated, so we recommend wearing comfortable clothing. There is a maximum capacity of 16 people. If you would like to attend, email curatorial@amant.org briefly explaining your interest. Please use “GARBAGE TEXTS” as the subject of your email.