As we get ready to wrap up another circle around the Sun, and the holiday season approaches, we hope that this note find you keeping well and staying safe.
In 2021, all of us continued to face pandemic-related challenges – both personally and professionally. In our microcosm as a small, independent and itinerant multidisciplinary ensemble, we have found that our ever-efficient way of operating has enabled us to adapt on the fly and remain resilient in the face of the current challenges.
As the New Year approaches, we wanted to take a moment to check in and share some exciting updates on what WaxFactory has been up to. But first: let us say hello!
As we enter our third decade as a non-profit performing arts company, we continue to explore innovative way of developing new work. Earlier this year, Ivan spent nearly 4 months in residence at the Emily Harvey Foundation in Venice, Italy, where he began researching TRACES, a new immersive, site-specific project inspired by the works of the celebrated French artist Sophie Calle, with the support of Universita’ Ca’ Foscari (Venice, Italy.) This past summer, the avant-premiere of WaxFactory’s feature film debut, 416 MINUTES was enthusiastically received at the Films Like No Other Festival in Croatia. Meanwhile, Erika has continued developing a new collaborative site-specific project, HOME / LAND, working with France’s Begat Theater and Portland’s hand2mouth, to be performed live in September of 2022 in Portland, Oregon and continuing to France for the second iteration. Erika and Ivan both continue educating new generations of theater students, at the School for the Contemporary Arts at Simon Fraser University (Vancouver, Canada) and at Carnegie Mellon University’s John Wells Directing Program (Pittsburgh, USA,) respectively.
There is a great deal for us to look forward to in 2022! We are excited to continue developing our new projects, and sharing our methodology with students and practitioners worldwide. Some of the highlights include:
_workshop presentation/screening of Damen Scranton’s ORLANDO, directed by Ivan and presented at the Frank-Ratchye Studio for Creative Inquiry in Pittsburgh (February 2022)
_a developmental residency of TRACES, in collaboration with the writer Rachel Jendrzejewski at The Playwrights Center in Minneapolis (March 2022)
_Summer Sessions: a new initiative called Vancouver CoLab for international artists to share their practice with students and local artists. A collaboration between Desire Line Sessions (created by Erika Latta at the School for Contemporary Arts) and Ivan’s Contemporary Performance Practices training program developed in Split, Croatia. (Summer 2022)
_HOME / LAND in Portland, Oregon - version #1 in September 2022.
With our feet now firmly in our third decade, we feel emboldened to continue creating in spite of ongoing challenges, and to continue sharing our work thanks to loyal followers like you, who have been steadfast in your support of WaxFactory over the years. Thank you!
As the end of the year approaches, we ask that you please consider renewing your support by sending us a donation (
for ways to donate, click here.)
Any amount you can give WILL make a difference, and it will support our efforts to return to performing and teaching live in 2022.
We wish you happy and healthy holidays and send best of wishes for an even happier new year.
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