DEAR YOU-
Thanks for coming. Seriously. Thank you. Being present means a lot to me.
These days I feel a bit like a heartthrob hibiscus plant in various states of bloom and a squirrel collecting, always collecting. Transforming, listening, and processing the big and small changes of life. So when I’m exploring messy moments from my life, such as my (now not so) secret fandom of Kate Winslet or researching queer history I exercise prompts that proliferate into any medium: a text translates to a gesture which translates to an artist book and so on. Each passing through my body, shifting and practicing what it means to be human.
I am excited by textures, tastes, and feeling it deep in my muscles.
I am working on being vulnerable. Sometimes I am horrible at it. I’m slowing processing this, noting this as a lifelong practice. I use vulnerability to expel my demons and tell personal stories that for years felt invaluable or dangerous to share. I offer these parts of myself as opportunities for others to consider their own permissions. What are we holding in and fearful of? Now is an opportunity to open oneself up to pleasures and things not yet known.
Picture a dirt bike zipping by your window: “zzggzzrrr, zzggzzrrr”. That is common to what I hear in this urban city I call home. It keeps pressing into me and I listen and respond activating sites and spaces in curious, unusual ways.
When I am not making something for myself I collaborate with my performance collective Applied Mechanics. I also gather people together over ideas. Many years ago I founded SoLow Festival supporting and promoting solo performances, but then it grew way bigger than I expected and I had to let that baby go.
A few times, fun things have been said about me: "Thomas Choinacky is a dance machine." (from the Philadelphia Weekly) and "Hilarious and magnetic." (from the Washington Post). These mean something to me in the archive of my life. Compiling what I’m doing and what I’m leaving behind is one of my tentacles. They exists in journals, letters, performances, and countless ephemeral objects.
Let me know and I’d be happy to share more. Thanks for reading.
YOURS TRULY,
Thomas(he/him and they/them)