Skip to main content
Boom Arts, Portland’s boutique performance arts presenter, put on one of its most ambitious and imaginative shows to date this past weekend, Bodies. The performance art piece, created by U.K. artist Ray Young, beautifully wove fluid motifs of water, human connection, and climate change into a pool-based experience.
Young and Boom Arts took care to ensure access to the performance was available to audience members of all abilities by including closed captions, floating devices and reserved space in the shallow end for those who needed breaks during the 50-minute aquatic experience.
Through profound conversation on how vital water is to both our world and individual selves, the performance allowed audiences to hold a sacred space and reverence for water while also diving deep into the joviality and light of childlike play in a pool.
While the group performance was a one-weekend event, those who are interested in experiencing Ray Young’s work can purchase Thirst Trap, a water-based performance art piece designed to take place in your bathtub.
Related: Boom Arts Is Bringing the Aquatic Visions of Ray Young to Portland