Entanglement.
collaborative community drawing project.
I am interested in what connects or disconnect us and the ways we care for and about one another. We collectively went through something that gave a sense of community erasure, isolation, and upheaval. It inspired me to make work that reconnects, that celebrates and strengthens relationships and community ties. This drawing, Entanglement, focuses on one sector of the local community—our creatives. It is both grand and subtle, a physical manifestation of our interconnectedness and the invaluable support we give one another. ~Su Begy
Entanglement is a performative drawing project by artist Susan Begy that spotlights the diverse creative community in Rochester, NY.
The project highlights the significance and contributions of a strong, connected creative community to any given city.
99 individual portrait drawings of Rochester creatives are entwined by a process of erasing and adding graphite in a sinewy, twisting fashion.
An essential component of the project is that each featured artist chose the next participant—someone whose work they feel has greatly contributed to the community, that they highly regard, or who has been meaningful to their work.
Begy photographed each participant and recorded them talking about their creative work.
As she drew each portrait, she listened to the corresponding recording several times.
The drawing was created onsite at Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo) during the State of the City exhibition in Fall 2022 and completed in an artist residency at RoCo in Spring 2023. The piece is 33 feet long and 55 inches high, graphite on 300 lb. Fabriano paper.
Music in the video is Likufanele by Zero 7.
The Entanglement project was made possible with funds from Statewide Community’s Regrants Program,
a regrant program of the NYS Council on the Arts
with the support of the Office of the Governor and the NYS Legislature,
administered by the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts.
detail 1
detail 3
detail 2
detail 4
detail 5
List of Creatives included in the drawing
Line 1A
Bleu Cease
Range Zarate
Carmelo Ortiz
Kathy Farrell
Pete Monacelli
Zanne Brunner
Nancy Valle
Colleen Buzzard
Joan Lyons
Line 1B
Bleu Cease
Luvon Shepherd
Steve Hill
Paulette & Eddie Davis
Mattie Alleyne
Cheryl Olney
Frances Hare
Josie Etter
Jessica Cheng
Martin Hawke
Line 2
Clara Riedlinger
Rudy Fabre
Siena Pullinzi
Bradley Young
Jack Cutri
Justin Suarez
Francheska Diaz
Line 3A
Annalisa Barron
Elizabeth Cameron
Mona Seghatoleslami
Hannah PK
Doug Curry
Levon Jones
Janice Baylis
Jason Pasonoc
Line 3B
Annalisa Barron
Hanna Lightbody
Erica Jae
Luticha Douchette
Thomas Warfield
Shawn Dunwoody
Reenah Osshun Golden
Line 4
Harold Taddy
Ishmael Walker
Teagan West
Rivkah Simcha
Matt Vanderlee
Molly O’Riley
Kristina Kaiser
Sarah Rutherford
Eric Lehman
Scar Markham
Heather Swenson
Nick Ruth
Evan Bobrow
Line 5
Amanda Chestnut
Quajay Donnell
Richard Colon
Magnus Apollo
Nick Brandreth
Evyn Morgan
Cammy Enaharo
Gary Lamaar
Elijah Crocker
Line 6
Sharon Locke
Mary Monroe
Nate Coffey
Amanda Ashley
Georgia Beers
Joy Argento
Susan Carmen-Duffy
Maia Horvath
Carol Bell
Line 7
Ya’Qub Shabazz
Rashaad Parker
Najay Quick
Ajani Jeffries
Guy Higgins
Vicky Tee
Casey Arthur
Stephe Ferme
Ambar De Santiago
Siena Facciolo
Chris Palace
Line 8
Catherine Valleroy
Paul Klem
Renee Larocca
Judy Gohringer
Carol Acquilano
Tarrant Clements
Jill Gussow
Line 9
Richmond Futch
Chloe Smith
Rebecca Flanders
Mark Groaning
Maureen Robbins
Gretel Hepler
Line 10
Julie Chen
Kelly Cheadle
Almeta Whitis
Niema Neteri-Atkins
Click IG link below to see more images of the Entanglement drawing project on Instagram @SusanBegy