Beyond Gravity PDX

Beyond Gravity PDX is an evening of three contemporary experimental works by San Francisco–based artists Gabriele Christian with Styles Alexander, Aiano Nakagawa with ainsley elizabeth tharp, and Rachael Dichter with Portland artist Allie Hankins.

November 20-22 at 7:30p

Originally performed at the Beyond Gravity Festival at CounterPulse in San Francisco in November 2024, this program carries special significance. It emerged in the wake of Gravity’s founder, Jess Curtis, whose passing left a profound impact on the international performance community. Each of the featured works was created by artists Jess mentored in the final years of his life, reflecting the legacy of his generous support and the spirit of artistic exchange he championed.

The pieces grapple with vulnerability, rage, transformation, Queer desire, and the fragile yet resilient webs we weave with lovers, community, and intimate friends. By presenting Beyond Gravity PDX, Performance Works NW honors Jess Curtis' enduring legacy and deepens connections between artistic communities in San Francisco and Portland—strengthening the bonds of mentorship, memory, and shared creative practice across regions.

RAGE ROOM, by Aiano Nakagawa in collaboration with ainsley tharp
A performance, a lecture, a meditation, a catharsis, a spell on femme rage.
DDF, by Gabriele Christian in collaboration with Styles Alexander
A Duet between choice cuts in a refuge out of real time. No matter how you look at us, we're cooked.
Chariot, by Allie Hankins & Rachael Dichter
Horses, a storm, a haunting. Allie and Rachael play with form, rigor and slippage to look at methods of control and ways of breaking (through?).

READ MORE ABOUT THE ARTISTS HERE
photo by Hillary Goidell