Abbee Warmboe
Pivot
This is my personal response to the crane and mask display done in collaboration with Kenji Shoemaker. Like most artists, I, too, was at a loss once our industry started shutting down. I didn’t have a purpose, which made it hard for me to feel like a productive person. But as the pandemic continued and after the murder of George Floyd, I was able to use my skills to help my community. Our theater community at large came together and used their skilled (and sudden abundance of time) to support the Twin Cities community. It would be impossible to try and list everyone who sewed masks, boarded up buildings, cleaned the streets, volunteered for mask drives and food pantries, and all those who donated their time and finances. But programs from past productions hold these names; they are filled with thousands of people, theaters, restaurants, and businesses--all struggling but still doing what they can for our community.
More to know:
Fellow theater artists came together to organize volunteers, who were largely unemployed theater technicians, to help board up hundreds of small businesses after the uprising. Read more from the following local and national news sources below:
From the Pioneer Press: Theater production pros pitch in to board up businesses
Costumers (along with other artists who sew) have been sewing for months to supply our community with cloth masks:
From the Star Tribune: Minneapolis costumers sew to save lives, making coronavirus face masks
About The Designer
Abbee Warmboe is a freelance props designer based in Minneapolis. She has been freelancing throughout the Twin Cities for the past 10 years, working on over 200 productions with 36 different companies. Most recently her work could be seen at Theater Latte Da, Penumbra Theatre Company, Mixed Blood Theatre, Theater Mu, and Ordway Center for Performing Arts, among others. She thrives in bringing a scenic design to reality by providing real, tactile objects into a space for actors and audience to interact with. During the pandemic, Abbee has been fulfilling her crafting needs by building and upholstering tiny furniture for her dog, as well as cross stitching each of her house plants. Abbee is a McKnight Theater Artist Fellow at the Playwright’s Center.
Abbee will be the props designer of the first production of Mu’s mainstage season, Susan Soon He Stanton’s TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY, January 29-February 14, 2021.
Artistic Response from DAISUKE Kawachi
Exploring the many ways collaborations occur and listening to the vital voices of our artists, the Jungle's SHINE A LIGHT pairs participating designers with area artists to create thoughtful responses to the installations. These audio commentaries will be available online throughout the event and add depth for the viewer's experience to help spark expansive conversation.
Transcript of Daisuke’s Artist Response
(Answering Machine: Hello. No one is available to take your call. Please leave a message after the tone.)
DAISUKE
Happy Birthday, Maya! I hope you and Lauren are doing something special today. I made that milk bread you wanted, but I don’t have a stand mixer so it’s….well, it’s ugly, but fine. I’ll drop it off later. Let me know if you want me to make a grocery run for you also. Happy Birthday!
(Answering Machine Tone)
DAISUKE
Sorry I missed your call - was on a job interview. You’re probably out right now so I’ll try you tonight. I hope you’re wearing a mask! I saw a lot of people out cleaning up after last night. Most folks are keeping distance, but it’s hard, all that work. Anyways, stay safe.
(Answering Machine Tone)
DAISUKE
Mom’s mad at me because I’m not stopping you from protesting or something. I know she’s just worried, and it's coming out in her weird way. It’s not that she’s against it. I just think she can’t see past the risk, and you’re always going to be her baby. You don’t have to, but maybe give her a call? Tell her what it’s like out there, as opposed to what she’s seeing on the news...or something. I don’t know.
(Answering Machine Tone)
DAISUKE
I got your text message. I’m so sorry that Lauren has COVID. Let me know if I can do anything. I’m just a bike ride away. I know you’re probably quarantining right now. It sucks. Text me back.
(Answering Machine Tone)
DAISUKE
Hey. It’s me. Still haven’t heard from you. Hope your quarantine’s ok. I’m gonna watch Drag Race tonight if you want to watch with me.
(Answering Machine Tone)
DAISUKE
Happy Day 8 of quarantine! Yeah! Six more to go!
(Answering Machine Tone)
DAISUKE
Do you remember that book?
Mom read it to us.
Yeah, that girl folded 600 cranes before dying.
And then her classmates finished the rest and buried all 1,000 with her.
It turns out she actually did the whole thousand and then some.
And then some.
I started folding some today.
I don’t know what to wish for yet if I make it to 1000.
Maybe for you to be healthy. Maybe for Lauren to pull through. Both?
Maybe for all this to end. But like a happy ending.
I know it’s a stupid legend.
Just sheets of paper.
When everything’s out of control, what’s left to do?
Everything and anything we can.
We wear masks. We fold origami. We eat vegan. We buy an electric car. We skip the car and commit to biking year round...even in the winter.
So we gotta do everything and anything we can.
I folded 129 today. I got a papercut in the process too.
I’ll do some more tomorrow.
I love you.
About the Responder
Daisuke Kawachi (He/Him/His) is an artist and activist located in the Twin Cities, primarily working as a director. His work has been seen at SteppingStone Theater, Theater Mu, The Phoenix Theater, among others. Most recently he co-created an adaptation of Medea, reimagined through the lens of our current social media culture, built for and presented on Zoom.