In Plain Sight

2020: Performance

Culture of Incarceration

In Plain Sight is a coalition of 80 artists, led by Cassils and rafa esparza, united to create an artwork dedicated to the abolition of immigrant detention and the United States culture of incarceration. A highly orchestrated mediagenic spectacle and poetic action, this project is conceived in five parts -- a poetic elegy enacted on a national scale, an interactive website, an anthology docuseries, accessible actions for the public to take to join the movement against immigrant detention, and cultural partnerships producing arts-related education and engagement.

Link to In Plain Sight webpage: http://xmap.us
Link to In Plain Sight on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inplainsightmap/

Independence Day

Starting Independence Day weekend 2020, and continuing into the fall,  In Plain Sight launched the nation's skytyping fleets to spell out artist-generated messages in water vapor, legible for miles. These messages were typed in the sky over detention facilities, immigration courts, borders, and other sites of historic relevance. As the planes soared, they made visible in the sky what is too often unseen and unspoken on the ground: the appalling, profoundly immoral, imprisonment of immigrants. In Plain Sight helps break through this wall of secrecy, exposing to public scrutiny the sites of detention centers, paid for with your dollars and operated in your name.

In Plain Sight steers the gaze of those sheltered in place into the borderless sky. Although we are living in uncertain times, there is one thing that is certain: we need to work towards ending immigrant detention. Our immigrant community does not have protection from the deadly coronavirus and lacks basic supplies including soap, disinfectant and face masks. We cannot distance ourselves from the fact that this community is faring poorly in this crisis. 

In Plain Sight aims to amplify the voices organizing on the inside and outside of detention centers, bringing together artist interventions and direct support for those urgently working towards immigrant justice. We aim to serve the decades-long movement built by people working, often as volunteers, as part of powerful coalitions, networks, and local organizations supporting the immigrant community. Our team, intersectional in our identities, experiences, and expertise, is dedicated to drawing attention to the calls to action crafted by experts on the ground and in communities, and to uplifting the voices of all those currently detained. We strive to do this in a collaborative and intentional manner. We stand in solidarity with all those working to end immigrant detention and the culture of incarceration. We welcome all comments and suggestions regarding how we can further uplift local voices, and center the voices of those who are directly impacted.

Image + media credits for this page >>

Cassils
Monument Push, Documentary Film
(Omaha Nebraska), 2017
Courtesy of the artist

Sites Chosen By: Dominique Morgan, Amy Schindler, Jenny Heinemann

Monument Push was facilitated by Curator Alex Priest
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha Nebraska

Push Captain: Eli Rigatuso
Pushers: Erin, Blayney, Alan Brondom, Vicki Carruthers, Chris Cook, E. Cram, Brian M. Dietrich,
C.D. Hardy, Karen Harris, Jenny Heineman, Victoria Hoyt, T. Jadrou, Linda Janssen, Josh Johnson,
Michael Johnson, Kim Kehloft, Holly Kranker, Karrisa Krybel, Kelly Larder, Michael Latty,
Emiliano Lerda, Ryann Lynn, Jackie Miren, Kris Miren, Dominique Morgan, Mick Mulhall,
Alex Nelson, Ellie Novak, Monica Ortiz, Alpesh Patel, Alex Priest, Chris Prinz, Risa Puleo,
Amy Schindler, Davina Schrier, Christine Schulte, Todd Simon, Amanda Smith, Shan Sumerman,
T. Sweeney, Andrew Tatreau, Adam Tyus, Vivienne Tyus, Allison Huerter Tyns, Carol Uvence,
Nicholas Watson, Mike Von Weihe, Amanda Zasada

Directed By: Cassils
Director of Photography: Alison Kelly
Second Camera: Harrison Martin
Sound Recording: Nicholas O'bradovich
Foley Sound: Cristy Michel
Photographer: John Ficenec
Editor: Cassils, Arshia Fatima Haq
Colorist: Harris Charalambous
Sound Design: Kadet Kuhne, Albert Ortega

Thank You:
Tyler Owen, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art
Holly Barrett, Downtown Improvment District
Troy Davis, Curb Appeal Salon
Dr. Andjela Drincic, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Mike Gaughen, City of Omaha
Audio Helkuik
Cameron Helkuik
Jessi Hitchins, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Eris Koleszar
Michael Latta
Reverend Debra McKnight Urban Abbey
Lynn Mytty, PFLAG
Deputy Chief Mary Newman, Omaha Police Department
Kate Parrish, River City Gender Alliance
PVS Steel
Tanner Reckling
Julie Reilly, Omaha by Design
Ryan Sallans
Queer Omaha Archives
Old Market Business Association
Omaha Public Art Commission

The plinth was fabricated by PVS Steel

"Stand Up"
Written, composed and sung by Dominique Morgan

Stand Up #blacklivesmatter
www.dominquemorgan.com
Twitter: @dommorganmusic
Instagram: @dommorganmusic
Produced by Dmajishin at Icon One Music

Performance took place on April 29, 2017

© Cassils 2017

Cassils
Resilience of the 20%
(Body of Work, Ronald Feldman Gallery, NYC), 2017
photo: Cassils with Megan Paetzhold
Courtesy of the artist

A Fiery Attack on Gender Norms | TCP Meets Cassils
The Creators Project

Supervising Producer: Sebastian Ischer
Directors of Photography: Flemming Lauresen
Associate Producer: Nicole Cone
Voiceover Artist: Kara Weisenstein

Editors: Daniel Ferry, Eduardo Araujo, Dave Gutt, Jeb Banegas
Assistant Editor: Ryan Mcglade
Executive Producer: Gerhard Stochl
Editor-In-Cheif: Marina Garcia-Vasquez
Channel Manager: Anna Graizbord

Executive Producers: Shane Smith, Eddy Moretti, Suroosh Alvi, Hosi Simon, Ciel Hunter, Sara Rodriguez
VP, Post Production: Mike Daniels
Director of Post Production: Veronica Mukhia
SUpervisor of Production: Lily Nguyen
Post Production Manager: Michael Skinner
Ingest Operators: John Stiles, Charis Hoo, Ohan Boodaghians

Post Audio Engineer: Jamie Collazo
Colorist: Gabriele Cassia
Director, Video Distribution: Jordan Debor
Quality Control Operator: Shelly Kamiel

Director of IT: Ariel Rubio
Equipment Manager: Dan Meyer
Rights & Clearances: Hollister Baffert, Victoria Kelsey
Head of Music Licensing & Archival: Ricki Askin
Music Supervisor: Taryn Kawata
Accounts Payable Manager: Joanne Smith
Production Coordinator: Sergio Noriega
Production Assistant: Gabriela Dematteis

Music Courtesy of: Jingle Punks, Audio Network
Archival Courtesy of: Cassils, Getty Images

The Creators Project Productions
©2016 Vice Media, LLC.

Cassils
Resiliance of the 20%, Installation Image No. 5
(Melt/Carve/Forge, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia), 2016
photo: Cassils with Zachary Hartzell
Courtesy of the artist and Ronald Feldman Gallery, New York

Cassils
Monument Push, Performance Still No. 3
(Omaha Nebraska), 2017
photo: Cassils with John Ficenec
Courtesy of the artist and Ronald Feldman Gallery, New York

Cassils
Monument Push, Performance Still No. 1
(Omaha Nebraska), 2017
photo: Cassils with John Ficenec
Courtesy of the artist and Ronald Feldman Gallery, New York

Cassils
Monument Push, Performance Still No. 4
(Omaha Nebraska), 2017
photo: Cassils with John Ficenec
Courtesy of the artist and Ronald Feldman Gallery, New York

Cassils
Monument Push, Performance Still No. 2
(Omaha Nebraska), 2017
photo: Cassils with John Ficenec
Courtesy of the artist and Ronald Feldman Gallery, New York

Cassils
Monument Push, Performance Still No. 2
(Omaha Nebraska), 2017
photo: Cassils with John Ficenec
Courtesy of the artist and Ronald Feldman Gallery, New York

Cassils
Monument Push, Performance Still No. 6
(Omaha Nebraska), 2017
photo: Cassils with John Ficenec
Courtesy of the artist and Ronald Feldman Gallery, New York