The Thank-you Bar/THIS IS DISPLACEMENT: Talk w/ Emily Johnson & Carolyn Anderson November 19, 2010

Interview with choreographer Emily Johnson and curator Carolyn Lee Anderson. When Emily Johnson was growing up in Alaska, most of her family gatherings would happen at her grandmother's home and bar called The Que-Ana Bar ('quyana' is the Yup'ik word for 'thank you'). Now living in Minneapolis, Johnson depicts the feeling of displacement, finding herself in one place physically and another emotionally. Inspired by her homeland and these memories, Johnson fully submerges you headfirst into her latest performance installation, The Thank-you Bar, interweaving music, film, stories, and dance to ask "What is a true home?"

Emily Johnson and Carolyn Lee Anderson have collaborated on the corresponding exhibit to The Thank-you Bar entitled, This is Displacement: Native Artists consider the Relationship between Land and Identity, featuring contemporary artwork by artists from 19 tribal nations in the U.S. Johnson and Anderson discuss The Thank-you Bar performance, the art featured in the exhibit, and the varied and complex experience of displacement in Native American communities. Presentation will be followed by a guided tour of the exhibit.
Northrop Dance presents Emily Johnson | Catalyst The Thank-you Bar on Thu, Nov 18 - Sat, Nov 20, 7 pm and 9 pm, Northrop Stage. This is Displacement will be on view one hour prior to each performance and 1:00-5:00 pm, Nov 18-20, Room 307, Northrop Gold Room.
PHOTO CREDIT: Jim Denomie

Official Website: http://www.northrop.umn.edu/events/emily-johnson