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Event Transitions from Meta: 'Artists' Output: Inactivity'

New performance series launched by The Feast, while simultaneously removing Meta-linked social media accounts from service.

,   and  ASMedia
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New Performance Series Debuts from The Feast as Meta Social Media Accounts Vanish
New Performance Series Debuts from The Feast as Meta Social Media Accounts Vanish

Event Transitions from Meta: 'Artists' Output: Inactivity'

Cranky's Take: The Feast, a small independent theater company based in Seattle, is parting ways with Meta-owned social media platforms on June 7, 2025. Tired of the attention economy's anti-art nature and Meta's alleged support of right-wing politics, Ryan Guzzo Purcell, the company's artistic director, is making a bold statement. This split won't be silent; instead, it will be public, forming part of "Artists Doing: Nothing," a new performance series.

In this event, five local artists will gather at Actualize art space, formerly the Coliseum Theater building, on June 7. Through the course of the day, they will spontaneously create a show involving dance, music, and performance to be presented that evening.

Artistic Evolvement:Purcell, an artificial intelligence skeptic, has led The Feast in pushing boundaries since its founding as The Williams Project in 2014. The company combines site-specific shows, immersive elements, and technology to create unique experiences. Last year, it used generative AI in a reworking of Elmer Rice's "The Adding Machine." Later this season, audience members will participate in a theatrical walking tour of Mount Baker and Rainier Valley neighborhoods to explore wealth inequality.

Breaking the Mold:"Artists Doing: Nothing" is an opportunity for The Feast to express its values through art, emphasizing attention to surroundings and community without mediation or distraction. The event also allows the company to produce more shows than limiting itself to full-scale productions during a season.

A Day of Creation:The concept of "Artists Doing: Nothing" originated from Purcell's previous job as associate artistic director at Magic Theatre in San Francisco, hosting one-day artist intensives. The show's organizing theme is doing nothing, a sarcastic comment on our scrolling-damaged attention spans and experiences engineered for third-party consumption. Although the artists will create something, the freedom within this framework appeals to them.

The Artistic ensemble:The artists involved in "Artists Doing: Nothing" are Alyza DelPan-Monley, Jéhan Òsanyìn, Nia-Amina Minor, Adrienne Mackey, and Ryan Guzzo Purcell. Each brings a unique perspective and expertise to the table, creating an engaging and diverse performance.

[1] The Feast's social media accounts are set to be deleted on June 7, 2025, marking the end of a relationship with Meta that the company feels has grown disenchanting due to perceived right-wing political leanings and an anti-art emphasis within the attention economy.

  1. In Seattle, The Feast theater company, known for pushing boundaries and using technology in unique ways, will cut ties with Meta-owned social media platforms on June 7, 2025, a move influenced by concerns over right-wing politics and the attention economy's impact on arts.
  2. With the closure of social media accounts, The Feast will pivot to live performances, showcasing their values through art as part of the "Artists Doing: Nothing" series, a spontaneous event that will take place at Actualize art space on the same day.
  3. The event, involving artists like Alyza DelPan-Monley, Jéhan Òsanyìn, Nia-Amina Minor, Adrienne Mackey, and Ryan Guzzo Purcell, aims to create a diverse performance that emphasizes attention to surroundings and community, while addressing the commodification of attention and experiences engineered for third-party consumption within the entertainment industry.

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