A Festival and Call to Action to Save Insects
September 25, 2021
High Line Art announces Insectageddon, a free day-long festival conceived by artist and poet Cecilia Vicuña. As a celebration of insects and call to action to address global insect die-off, Insectageddon will consist of interdisciplinary and interactive performances, poetry readings, workshops, and more throughout the High Line, and take place on September 25, 2021. The event addresses the devastating loss of insect populations around the world due to the immense scale of toxic industrial farming, pesticides, and habitat destruction. Dozens of partner sites across New York City and the United States will also be hosting their own events in conjunction with the festival. Insectageddon is the culminating event for the High Line’s annual Horticulture Celebration, which takes place each September.
Insectageddon is a collective performance and call to action envisioned by Vicuña, celebrating the millions of insects that visit and make their home on the High Line every year. Vicuña uses the natural and lively landscape of the park to raise awareness of the importance of insects for maintaining the vegetal world, as well as all living beings that rely on plants to live. For the event, Vicuña and the event's partners bring together artists, activists, citizen scientists, climate change scholars, entomologists, performers, and young people in an effort to both reflect and raise awareness of our interconnectedness in the web of life. Performances will be outfitted in colorful patterned insect costumes and sets designed by Gregory Corbino in collaboration with Vicuña.
Artist performances
Francisca Benitez and Sunder Ganglani, Bombus impatiens and other harmonies
3:30pm
On the Flyover, on the High Line between 25th and 27th streets
Benitez and Ganglini will present a harmonizing vocal duet inspired by the Latin and common names of the insects found on the High Line in synchronicity with an ASL interpreter.
Christy Gast, Goldenrod Transect
4pm
Meet on the High Line at Gansevoort Street
Gast will present a durational performative walk around goldenrod, a native plant found in several locations throughout the High Line. Gast will have with her a giant soft sculpture of a goldenrod, as a prop for educational, creative, and interactive collaboration with the public. The performance will travel between Gansevoort Street and 16th Street.
Poet’s ANThology (A living ANThology)
5pm
Various locations on the High Line
Invited poets will perform at different spots throughout the High Line, spontaneously in conversation with guests. Poets will be wearing insect cyborgian costumes designed by Cecilia Vicuña and created by Gregory Corbino. The Poet’s ANThology will culminate at the 10th Avenue Overlook with a poetry performance by Cecilia Vicuña. Poets include Omar Berrada, Lee Ann Brown, Laynie Brown, Brenda Coultas, Latasha Diggs, Marcella Durand, Lucía Hinojosa Gaxiola, E.J. McAdams, Sarah Riggs, Eleni Sikelianos, Edwin Torres.
Readings and performances
3–6pm
At the 10th Avenue Overlook at 17th Street
Poets, scientists, artists, and climate activists speak about their work involving insects and ways we can move forward together. Presentations will take place in the 10th Avenue Overlook at 17th Street. Speakers include: sixth-grade entomologist Anusha Vaish; poet Julie Patton; mycologist and filmmaker Giuliana Furci; renowned activist Bertha Lewis; bee biologist and Field Associate at the American Museum of Natural History Sarah Kornbluth; High Line staff gardener Scout Kerensky-Coodley; Cecilia Vicuña and musician Ricardo Gallo; and the revered theatrical troupe Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir; among others.
Film screenings
3–4pm
The Backyard at Hudson Yards
Near 32nd Street and 11th Avenue
8–9pm
In the 14th Street Passage, on the High Line at 14th Street
Artists and filmmakers present a series of videos and short films exploring the profound creativity and ingenuity of insects. The series features films by Isabella Rossellini, Pedro Neves Marques, Matthew C. Wilson, Maria Fernanda Cardoso, and Cecilia Vicuña with Ricardo Gallo and Robert Kolodny.
In addition, Insectageddon features family-friendly art making workshops as well as insect-inspired culinary delights available from High Line food vendors.
