Support Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism and keep our reporting and criticism free and accessible to all. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today. “As we used to say in the ’90s, accessorize, don’t militarize,” yelled choreographer Miguel Gutierrez as a crowd gathered before him in Lower Manhattan’s Fosun Plaza.
Participants obliged, adorning themselves in duochrome tule, sequined sashes, and gold fringe before joining him in an energetic choreography set to Le Tigre’s “Deceptacon.” The participatory dance event on June 7 signaled the beginning of the annual Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s (LMCC) River to River Festival — a series of free performances in public spaces across downtown Manhattan last month. The LMCC created the River to River Festival in 2002 with a reparative goal: to address residents’ collective fear and grief in the aftermath of 9/11.
Organizers selected public art projects designed to facilitate connection and rebuild communities. Now, over two decades later, the festival serves as a key component of the LMCC’s broader efforts to support independent artmaking across the borough. Sign up for our free newsletters to get the latest art news, reviews, and opinions from Hyperallergic.
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