Living Away
Co-Director & Curator: William Ruiz Morales (with Gabriela Burdsall)
2017–2022, New York & Miami
A performance initiative rooted in immigrant experiences, presenting new work and cross-city exchange.
Overview
Living Away was a platform for contemporary live arts practices that uplifted immigrant perspectives through presentations, salons, and hybrid gatherings (online/offline). Editions have included a Brooklyn festival and a pandemic-era online program that brings together artists from multiple countries.
Origins & Frame
Co-directed by William Ruiz Morales and Gabriela Burdsall, Living Away launched as a community-centered presenting platform connecting Miami and New York. Public events include shows at the 17 Frost Gallery in Brooklyn and an Online Edition (2020) that adapted the platform’s social and artistic aims to a domestic/virtual format.
Program Highlights
- Built an independent platform for immigrant-centered performance, connecting New York and Miami communities.
- Produced a Brooklyn salon at 17 Frost Gallery.
- Delivered a 2020 Online Edition integrating domestic/virtual formats to maintain communal exchange during the pandemic.
- Presented works from international artists and activated a community of creatives to think “how to be close” through distance—via talks, screenings, and live interventions.
- Activated Miami–NY networks through pop-up performances and streamed events.
Components & Methods
- Presenting Program — Curated performance blocks, artist talks, and screenings (in-person and online).
- Hybrid/Hospitality Formats — Socially-distanced, domestic/virtual setups to sustain intimacy and access.
- Community Exchange — Cross-city convenings linking immigrant artists, collaborators, and audiences.
Main Partners
17 Frost Gallery (Brooklyn)
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
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