Brendan Fernandes turns the iconic Merchandise Mart and Riverwalk in downtown Chicago into a space to gather and dance to coincide with the 40th anniversary of house music. For his commission, the artist imagines 'new' windows and doorways onto THE MART, using the movements of animated human dancers to continuously 'reshape' the façade of the building. Colorful backdrops that reference foliage and African textiles honor the essential contributions of African diasporic peoples to American art forms, while emphasizing the natural elements of our man-made urban surroundings.
In this newest work Fernandes exhibits his flair for subverting the conventions of dance performance, approaching the form with an architectural eye and an empathetic heart, imbuing all of his work with equal parts cultural responsiveness, critical theory, and aesthetic beauty. Accompanied by a house music soundscape made in collaboration with Chicago-based producer Sean J. Wright, Fernandes's Build Up the House highlights the power of THE MART as an accessible platform for expressions of solidarity, community-building, and celebration.
Animation and Post-Production: Daily Planet
Original Music in collaboration with Shaun J Wright
Produced by Domenic Del Carmine
Danced by Katlin Michael Bourgeois and Lieana Sherry
Photography by Matt Bruinooge
This new commission is made possible through the generous support of Cari and Michael Sacks, Anne Kaplan, and the Alumnae Board of Northwestern University.