critically exploring, creatively discovering, aesthetically expressing
The Three Stages of Insight Artistry
TÉA has been engaging with companies of diverse artists in creating works of Insight art – theatrical performance pieces guided by Insight artistry.
There are three main stages of our work: critically exploring, creatively discovering and aesthetically expressing
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Critically Exploring
The TÉA artists begin by participating in Insight conversations with dozens of individuals concerned about the personal and social dynamics of something that matters in their lives. We collectively wonder with the individuals about the way they are using their minds to understand and respond to these dynamics – which circumstances they identify as salient, the feelings that animate their responses, the options they consider, and the decisions they make.
What we explore during these Insight conversations is invariably illuminating and dramatic, and as a company we pay critical attention to what has been shared with us.
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Creatively Discovering
In a series of Insight Design labs, we devise experiences that enable the Company of artists to creatively discover various aesthetic expressions. These artistic manifestations actualize the theory of change distinctive to Insight art. The TÉA Artists pay explicit attention to how their own minds are working during this discovery stage, heightening the recognition of the need to be more curious when we catch ourselves in a rush to judgment or to be more conscientious when we realize we have been rash. This self-attention and reflection informs and becomes part of the art we are creating.
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Aesthetically Expressing
By creating a theatrical performance piece we are aesthetically expressing what we have explored and discovered during our process. We strive for a theatrical experience that enables artists and audience members to gain at least momentary liberation from the inner constraints of polarizing patterns of thinking and feeling by experiencing firsthand, the intrinsically dramatic, entertaining, and compelling inner shift from certainty and righteousness to curiosity and empathy. By immersing audience members in a theatrical experience that will heighten their awareness of the way they use their minds to respond to personal and social dynamics of an issue or set of issues, we hope to provide a dramatic opportunity for change.
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Continue reading here for an in depth explanation of Insight artistry method.
History
For over a decade, TÉA has been progressively developing a platform for the collaborative design and creation of Insight art.
In 2009 we partnered with Intersections International to gather and train the original company of TÉA actors, with whom we worked collaboratively to create Under the Veil: Being Muslim (and Non-Muslim) in New York, post-9/11. The piece was performed in six states, to thousands of audience members.
In 2012, we produced Cadence: Home, exploring the personal experiences of veterans returning to their friends and family from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was a site-specific piece performed in midtown Manhattan and Tampa, Florida.
On the strength of this success, TÉA became an official initiative of Intersections International, we continued to collaborate until 2015, at which time we formed TÉA Creative, Inc. to further develop and propagate Insight Artistry.
In 2014 in collaboration with the Mayor’s Innovation Team in Memphis, Tennessee we created Uniform Justice, a piece about police community relations. Uniform Justice premiered in Memphis and performed in Cleveland, New Jersey and in New York City where it was a part of the New York Fringe Festival.
In 2012 we began the incubation and development of a piece exploring the polarization of the United States. Originally titled There’s Something About America, the process became an initiative which yielded three distinct projects.
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Rocco, Chelsea, Adriana, Sean, Claudia, Gianna, Alex
Multi-disciplinary and highly experiential, the piece was co-produced by the Private Theatre and premiered at HERE Arts Center in New York City in 2019.
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ACCORD(ing)
A movement based performance piece, premiered at Burning Coal Theatre in Raleigh North Carolina and was a Co- production of SoundingLine Arts.
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Insight Artists for Global and Social Change
An intensive workshop series in which nine artists trained in Insight, deepened the practice of Insight artistry and created pieces of Insight art culminating in an evening Salon. This work led to the formation of the Insight Artists Collective.
Application and impact
Insight Design Lab (IDL) is shorthand for the structured process TÉA uses to research, devise, and stage its theatrical performance pieces. Over the years, we have designed and led Insight Design Labs to create the TÉA theatre pieces that address the conflicts between Muslims and non-Muslims, veterans and civilians, police officers and community members, and people placed at odds with each other due to political polarization and racial difference. Each of these pieces has proved to be healing for audience members and artists alike, and in the process, we have honed our expertise in designing and leading Insight Design Labs. Given the range of social conflicts TÉA Artistry has explored, our productions have attracted an equally diverse set of audiences: military veterans, police officers, and a broad array of individuals and groups caught up in the polarizing dramas of race, religion, and politics that divide Americans from each other today. These audiences have been intrigued and engaged. Nevertheless, the most important community served by TÉA Artistry is arguably the community of artists – the actors, dancers, singers, musicians, videographers, and playwrights – that TÉA brings together to devise and perform its theatrical performance pieces. To date, over 150 artists have participated in the creation and production of TÉA’s performance pieces – some as repeat performers, many going on to employ what they have learned about Insight artistry in other artistic endeavors.
The impact of Insight artistry and the insight design labs on the artists is typically profound. It gives them an opportunity to employ their talents in the service of their highest aspirations for social change. To be sure, TÉA artists find it meaningful to be engaged as a working artist. But even more, they find it personally fulfilling to participate in a method of artistic creation that enables them to contribute to the advancement of social change and healing.
