COLOR OF REALITY
By Jon Boogz, Lil Buck, Alexa Meade, & Kalie Acheson
“In the lushly hypnotic video Color of Reality, a quick tale told through movement and visual art, these men are dancers and their message is not just about social justice. It’s also about their art…Think of it as a Van Gogh — that is, if one of his paintings were brought to life as a performative protest…used to inspire positive change and empower.” — The New York Times
About Color of Reality
Color of Reality explores themes of police brutality and racial injustice in modern American life through the movement artistry of Jon Boogz and Lil Buck, the illusionistic painting of Alexa Meade, and was produced by Kalie Acheson.
The video art piece opens with two dancers sitting frozen in place, masked with a layer of paint, making them appear to be part of a 2D painting. They are staring into the TV, transfixed and horrified by scenes of police brutality saturating the news. The once static painting snaps to life as the movement artists release their emotions into a stirring dance that is both a lament and a spirited call to action. The result is a powerful, mesmerizing 2D art representation of hearts being broken by racial injustices.
Director and Movement Artist Jon Boogz explains “Color of Reality is activism through art and movement. It’s groundbreaking for dance and also continues to push our powerful message of social justice and equality in different mediums and reach new audiences that need to be exposed to this message.” Jon Boogz continues, “These are really tough issues to talk about, but when you use movement, people receive it better. It provokes dialogue. Art is for everybody. It’s universal. It doesn’t matter what religion you are, what color you are. Art is art.”
Color of Reality was first released in 2016 and, unfortunately, is just as relevant and important to the public dialogue of race relations in America today as it was when it was created five years ago. It has been honored by CNN’s Great Big Story with the “Art as Impact Award” and was included in the National Civil Rights Museum’s “Freedom Awards Ceremony.” Screenings have been held at major public venues such as the Lincoln Center and the Apollo Theater. It is now shown in American high school classrooms when discussing the intersectionality of art, race, and social movements.
The Artists Behind Color of Reality
JON BOOGZ
Writer, Director, Movement Artist
Jon Boogz is a movement artist, choreographer, and director who seeks to push the evolution of what dance can be – sharing with audiences of all backgrounds an appreciation of the melding of art forms while inspiring and bringing awareness to social issues. Originally motivated to begin dancing by the painstaking choreography of Michael Jackson, Boogz embarked as a movement artist 15 years ago and soon thereafter was participating in dance competitions around the world. Since then he has choreographed work for numerous notable icons including ballet’s Mikhail Baryshnikov, Naomi Campbell, and Gloria Estefan.
LIL BUCK
Movement Artist
International phenomenon LIL BUCK began jookin’– a street dance that originated in Memphis –at age 13 alongside mentors Marico Flake and Daniel Price. After receiving early hip-hop training from Teran Garry and ballet training on scholarship at the New Ballet Ensemble, he performed and choreographed until relocating to Los Angeles in 2009. Named one of Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch, his collaboration with Spike Jonze and Yo-Yo Ma performing The Swan went viral in 2011. This opened the door to collaborating with a broad range of renowned artists ranging from Janelle Monae to JR and the New York City Ballet to Madonna. Buck is acclaimed as a versatile artist and channels his creativity and charisma into works spanning the performing arts, commercial endeavors, and is a vocal advocate of arts education with a firm belief that art facilitates the learning of everything else.
ALEXA MEADE
Painter
Internationally-acclaimed artist Alexa Meade is famous for inventing a style of painting that transforms the 3-dimensional world of reality into what appears to be a 2-dimensional representation of itself. She explains her technique in her TED Talk “Your Body Is My Canvas,” seen by millions. She has exhibited her art across the globe at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC, The Saatchi Gallery in London, The Grand Palais in Paris, and the streets of Tokyo. As artist-in-residence at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and Google, Alexa is at the forefront of interdisciplinary collaboration.
KALIE ACHESON
Producer
Kalie Acheson is a Los Angeles based producer, designer and installation artist. Beginning her career in 2010, she rose to prominence within her fields quickly; partnering with brands such as Sephora, Spotify, Netflix, and pop icon Miguel. Launching her company, Art Mafia, in 2019, specializing in interactive installations and immersive spaces, she amassed an impressive portfolio of projects. Under her direction, Art Mafia, has earned a reputation for mind bending creative achievements. Garnering accolades for both herself and her company, her artistry and dedication have been praised by The New York Times, Forbes, Ad Age, and PAPER. Acheson’s work delves into the realms of wild, weird, and unexpected; challenging our ideas of immersive design and inviting play, exploration, and connection.
“These are really tough issues to talk about, but when you use movement, people receive it better. It provokes dialogue. Art is for everybody. It’s universal. It doesn’t matter what religion you are, what color you are. Art is art.”
NFT drop on Nifty Gateway
Friday July 16, 2021
The historically significant video art piece Color of Reality was released as an NFT in partnership with Nifty Gateway, the premier marketplace for digitally collectible assets. NFT technology allows Color of Reality to join a wider range of artistic expressions represented in fine art collections.
The full Color of Reality short film was released as a 1 of 1, unique NFT. Pivotal moments from the film were excerpted into standalone, video art clips presented in limited editions and open editions.
A portion of the proceeds were donated to the Equal Justice Initiative.
View the Color of Reality NFT collection on Nifty Gateway
Reality Melting, Dancer Jon Boogz
Reality Can Rip Your Heart Out, Dancer Lil Buck
Reality Marches On
Reality of Heartache
Reality Bleeds Red
Reality Bleeds Down
A portion of the Color of Reality NFT proceeds were donated to the Equal Justice Initiative.
Behind the Scenes Videos by Abbey Sacks
Still Photography by Matthew Brush
Crew
Artwork – Alexa Meade, @alexameadeart
Writer, Director, Choreographer, and Movement Artist – Jon Boogz, @JonBoogz
info@sozomedia.com
Movement Artist, Choreographer – Lil Buck, @LilBuckDaLegend
Director of Photography, Coloring – Kyle Stryker, @strykerkyle
Producer – Kalie Acheson, @artmafia.studios
Editor, Assistant Director – Charles Latham, @charleslathamxxv
Editor, Choreography – Alec Clawson, @AlecClawson
Music – DBR, @danielroumain – Wondagurl, @wondagurl
B Camera, Ronin Operator, SPX – Ethan Coco, @nahte_coco
B Camera, Ronin Operator – Sinziana Velicescu, @casualtimetravel
Project Coordinator – Liz Olenski, @etolenski
Behind the Scenes – Gavin Millette, @gavinmillette
Set Decorator, Behind the Scenes – Abbey Sacks, @abbeysacksart
Set Decorator – Ashley Snively, @glitter.bloom
Set Decorator – Britt Harrison, @brittharrrrison
Presented By
Dais Creative, Inc.
Sozo Artists, Inc., @sozoartists
Movement Art Is
Alexa Meade, @alexameadeart
Standard Vision, @standardvision
Animi, Inc. @animi.design
Special Thanks
Sol Guy, @solguy
Gavin Sheppard, @Gavatista
SV Presents, @standardvision
Melissa Higgins, @exigeante
Stephen Kambi
Rika Iino, @sozoartists
Brian Mayfield, @fozzymayfield
Misian Taylor, @ralphwaldofemmerson
Shimmy Boyle, @safetythirdproductions
Jason Yarbro
Altavien “Phyouture” Hart, @phyouture
Crew members from left to right, starting with the back row:
Charles Latham, Kyle Stryker, Jon Boogz, Kalie Acheson, Alexa Meade, Ashley Snively, Lil Buck, Sinziana Velicescu, Alec Clawson, Gavin Millette, Abbey Sacks, Liz Olenski, Britt Harrison
Crew members not pictured: Wondagurl, DBR, Ethan Coco