Gallery of Lucada Mélange members and their collaborations with additional artists.
Collaborations
Staunch
Interdisciplinary Artist: Donna Ahmadi
This piece is about the global water crisis. It depicts women carrying water miles to nurture their villages. It was created for the Indigenous MNI Festival of New York in 2022.
Interdisciplinary art with Butoh, Performance Art, & Acting
Performed Live at
Indigenous MNI Festival of New York :
La National-Spanish-Benevolent Society and Queens Public Library
photo credit: Erika Kapin
Mi Amor & The Queen Bee
by Dianna Cortez (mezzo-soprano), Jennifer Shaw (cello), and Megan Cattau (aerialist), and the special appearance of Amelie Rose Cortez.
UNFIX NYC 2022
“Mi Amor & the Queen Bee” prominently featured the timeless art song “La Vie en Rose,” originally by Edith Piaf. Dianna Cortez (mezzo-soprano) performed it, accompanied by Jennifer Shaw (cellist) and Megan Cattau (aerialist). This exquisite piece artfully connects the profound need for the Queen Bee and explores how she uniquely manifests love and romance through the delicate beauty of roses.
Barkodile
Donna Ahmadi
Visual art combines Botuh, photography, and site-specific environmental and social action.
2016
“My Chamber”
by Dianna Cortez (mezzo-soprano) with the music of Erik Satie and Poulenc.
Interart: Music, Opera, European Mask, Butoh, Artfilm
“My Chamber” vividly portrays a woman enduring profound suffering in isolation while also exploring the intricate relationship between harsh environmental conditions and mental health struggles. Through its compelling narrative, the work delves into the emotional impact of her surroundings and how they contribute to her sense of loneliness and distress.
UNFIX NYC Film Festival 2023
Awarded “Best Original Editing”
“Plastic not Fantastic”
by Donna Ahmadi, Dianna Cortez, & Jody Gazenbeek-Person.
Interart: Butoh, Environmental Music, Site-Specific, Puppetry, Art film.
“Plastic not Fantastic” Interdisciplinary Artists: Dianna Cortez, Jody Gazenbeek-Person, and Donna Ahmadi. This piece questions the need for plastic, as its wastes destroy our environment and wildlife.
UNFIX NYC Film Festival 2023 Awarded “Best Physical Comedy”
Mister Mantis
Interdisciplinary Artists: Donna Ahmadi & Otis Cook
Costumes: Phoebe Katzen
Puppet & Mask Designer: Barry Weil
Modern Dance, Puppetry, Mask, & Music
A day in the life of a male Mantis.
Performed Live in Chashama Window Series in the Urban Garden Room
Bank of America Building
2015
On the Verge: Or the Geography of Yearning
by Eric Overmyer
City Attic Theatre (The C.A.T. ) Artistic Director: Dianna Cortez. On the Verge by Eric Overmeyer, starring Amber Gray (Tony nominee for Hadestown Broadway), and Dayle Pivetta-Extrel.
Produced by C.A.T. at The Medicine Show Theatre, NY, NY Fall 2006.
The Most Beautiful Lullaby by Greg Romero
Photo Still: Dianna Cortez (Narrator)
Produced by the C.A.T. at Under St Mark’sTheatre in NY, NY Spring 2007.
Marisol
by Jose Rivera
Director: Dianna Cortez
Starring: Lorraine Mattox
Produced by City Attic Theatre (C.A.T) at The Medicine Show Theatre in NY, NY 2008.
Hymn to Life
“Hymn to Life” by Timothy Donnolly
Music Composer: David Skeist
Director: James Zuthimore
Dianna Cortez was in the interdisciplinary ensemble.
FiveMyles Art Gallery in Brooklyn, NY 2019
Unknown Title
Interdisciplinary Artists: Donna Ahmadi
Photographer: Jason Lujan
Exhibited at Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian in NYC