Imani Lee Williams on Thomas Choinacky

Thomas, 

Your show left me with an afterglow! I will never get over the meticulous way in which you removed the stitching from that Beanie Baby while describing kinky surrender. I remember that release- my own. It was nice to relate to a moment that I myself have never truly spoken about. That’s not to say I’ve always wanted to; it’s to say, this preciousness my body remembers is a thread to another’s remembrance, and in a unique way I’ve never believed was possible. The undoing. I remember what that was. I remember the tears too. I remember seeing myself, too.

Thank you for such a clear takeaway. I heard “My Allowance” challenge me to ask myself, “What’s in it for me?” Objects charged with such personal, sensorial storytelling reminded me of my own objects. The ones I’m around, what’s not around anymore. A truly analogue’d storytelling – your treasure trove.

I had the ostrich Beanie Baby too!

Yes to feeling like I was a kid again, and my cool kid neighbor was sneaking us into their parents’ basement. Show and Tell, but on our terms, and not for a grade; we could get busted at any moment.

So many “I”s and “My”s, spoken in authority to memories and considerations, reminds me that nostalgia is just a taste. Along a table of toys, candies, a chastity cage(!), there are worlds created and destroyed. I was taken in by how well you knew your objects. How well you knew their capacity to tell the story. For example, having an intentional pairing of the Beanie Baby to the Miss America pageant was chef’s kiss.

There are loved ones known and loved ones to be. Your grandmother’s brother’s story was so responsibly told.

You should feel very proud. Such incredibly heartfelt work.

P.S. You’re choreographing for WITCH! I’ll see you around!”

Best,

Imani

Imani Lee Williams is the creator / performer of Ideas of Grandeur at the Lemonade Stand hub.

Thomas Choinacky is the creator / performer of My Allowance at the Queen Memorial Arts Building.