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Malcolm-x Betts on Jordan Demetrius Lloyd’s “BlackBare in the Basement”

August 29, 2023

Jordan Demetrius Lloyd, "Blackbare in the Basement," Danspace Project, 2023. Photos: Malcolm-x Betts.

Jordan Demetrius Lloyd's Blackbare in the Basement premiered at Danspace Project on March 9th-11th, 2023. Visual and dance artist Malcolm-x Betts photographed Lloyd's dress rehearsal on March 7. Betts' photos, taken on a Mamiya RZ67, are presented here along with written reflections.

Blackbare in the Basement.

In ways we are all connected through the possibilities of showing up to reengage with institutions that allegedly cause generational harm for Black folks. When entering Danspace Project I am reminded of these dark histories and how architectures frame an reimagining for witnessing past,present,future entanglements within the body. In my film photography practice I offer living archive: (one) film capturing ghost. (two) family portraits. (three) otherwise possibility. Film (and all of my practices) there’s a searching for alternative modes of existing outside of white supremacy, patriarchy, heteronormativity.

Enter. 

Speaking for myself as markers there is pressure to present work for an audience. 

trusting the longevity of that the practice- trusting one will truly understand the work- 

 An urgency for survival, the migration from gig to gig / process to process- In the back of mind I question the processing the undoing in live time. 

— Malcolm-x Betts

Jordan Demetrius Lloyd, Blackbare in the Basement, Danspace Project, 2023. Photos: Malcolm-x Betts.

Malcolm-x Betts is a New York based visual and dance artist who believes that art is a transformative vehicle that brings people and communities together. His artistic work is rooted in investigating embodiment for liberation, Black imagination, and directly engaging with challenges placed on the physical body. He has a community engagement practice allowing artistic freedom and making art accessible to everyone. Betts developed and presented work at La MaMa Umbria International in Spoleto, Italy. La Mama NYC, Gibney Dance Center, Movement Research at Judson Church, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), The Bronx Museum and Dixon Place. Betts showed excerpts of Midnight Glow: Kinfolk at Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX), Movement Research at Judson Church and Draftworks at Danspace Project. Kinfolk Vol 2: Butch Queen was persented by Judson Arts in November 2021. Betts worked on Bronx Speaks with the Bronx Musuem with undocumented immgrants. Performed in works by luciana achuga, Jonathan Gonzalez, Snoogybox, Nile Harris and Alex Romania. Betts was a 2018 Artist and Resident with Movement Research.