Today we’d like to introduce you to Ilknur Ozgur.
Ilknur, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Ah my story. My story, my pure luck that a million factors didn’t go in a different direction in my family history leading to my birth. I do know that I am fortunate to be here. To keep this story compacted to more recent events, I can start with my parents immigration to the United States. Both my parents are from Turkey, more specifically Izmir and Polatli. My first languages spoken were Turkish, English and broken Arabic. As of today, I maintain a basic conversational Turkish level and a functioning hold on English.
We did not grow up with many resources to ensure our well being or financial status. Both my parents worked tremendously hard to assure my brother and I felt no worries in our day to day lives. Not to say it was easy.
I think my experiences with my parents and grandparents have so much to do with who I am today. My grandparents didn’t speak any English and studied to become American citizens. In fractured memories, I carry their stories with me everywhere. Witnessing the economic growth and cultural assimilation of my family gifted me with a hard work ethic and love for respect, honesty, love, mindfulness and a giving nature.
Even when we had nothing, my grandparents would send trunks of clothing to Russia. I remember watching my grandmother pack these when I was 10 years old. My education and success was so important to my family for more reasons then purely being stable in my adult life. There was a beauty attached to me succeeding beyond social norms.
Originally, I am from Illinois, spending the majority of my adulthood living in Chicago. It was there I completed my B.A. and then attended Graduate School and finished that in about a year and a half. I just wanted to be able to have my social life back, so I ripped through my masters and graduated with honors.
During my educational journey I had really great work experiences at Blue Man Group Chicago, Warped Tour and events at the Newberry Library. I also taught theatre and public speaking at local colleges. Performance art and telling stories has always been a part of me and at that time, I wanted to give full time teaching in the arts a try. I was offered a two year contract in Texas. I was like, ‘What is Texas? Who moves to Texas?’ I didn’t pack until the night before leaving Chicago. My friends came and packed all my things into a small U-haul and made me go. They knew more than I did, that a change would be good for me.
Long story short, I decided academia wasn’t for me and once my contract ended in Texas, I thought I would head back home to Chicago. Now, 8 years later, I am still here and I own a residence/arts space in West Dallas. Abel Flores Jr, Michael Cleveland and myself now run the nonprofit immersive performance art company called Artstillery. We have been awarded a Cultural Vitality Program Grant through the City of Dallas for our next performance titled Dirty Turk. We have also teamed up with Dallas City Homes to become the resident performance company in a new structure being built in 2019. Of course, I have to give Ash + Lime credit, because they connected Artstillery to Dallas City Homes.
So, as of today, Artstillery has produced Family Dollar, an original immersive piece about a woman living in a dilapidated shotgun house in West Dallas (performed in her actual home).
We were also selected to perform at the Nasher Sculpture Museum. Which was really funny, because when we were writing and producing Family Dollar I said to the team, “next is the Nasher, whatever it takes”. It happened and when it did happen, we had a plan of action for the performance. Then Trumps immigration ban ideas and airports were full of our friends protesting and even a few of our board members – we had to change our show in the last two weeks to address what was happening.
We only create original works based on research, so we spoke with an Islamic Center, a Jewish Center, local refugees and immigrants in DFW and wrote Welcome Mat. We did five call to prayers inside the museum including people of all cultures and languages praying together. People were even doing yoga. It was unbelievable. Honestly, we kept saying before the performance, we didn’t know what was going to happen, but we were going to let “whatever” happen.
My favorite feedback from that performance was that audience members/participants said it sounded like HUMANITY.
Now, we tackle Dirty Turk. What a title right? This performance will be a part of a trilogy on cultural identity. Next will be Generations of Adam (lead by Michael) and then, Lost in Aztlan (lead by Abel). Each of these performances will allow audience members to walk the performance, sit where they want to sit, stand, leave if they don’t like it, stay if they love it, dance, drink, whatever they want. It is not a traditional theatre, there is no fourth wall.
We also pay everyone who helps us. If we don’t have the grant or donation monies, then it will come out of our pockets. There are kids in West Dallas who just show up at our space asking to be a part of whatever we are doing. So, we always say yes, and hire/train them. We are also setting up bank accounts for these kids. Basically, we have much responsibility on our plates right now and we wouldn’t want it any other way.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh goodness, no, is it ever smooth for anyone? Every day, I am reminded how resilient we are as human beings. I breath in the situation, feel it out and then exhale. Move on.
Artstillery – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We specialize in “tossing out frisbees and wondering if they will come back”. This is our company motto since the beginning. Essentially, Artstillery has no fear as a company. We welcome in any new ideas and figure out whether we fit into the plan before us or vice versa. Our main focus is this – if we can’t pay you to be a part of what we do – then we won’t do the project. Michael, Abel and myself don’t get paid and we know that for now. We all carry day jobs to sustain ourselves.
Each person who is part of our productions are paid as well as we can. We are grant writing, supported by tremendously supportive board members and private donors. Do we need more money, yes of course, always. Please don’t be shy and donate.
However, as of today in this moment, we are organized to the best of our ability. We can pay the performers for Dirty Turk and pay them quite well. That is our first priority. We also DO NOT just simply cast seasoned performers. Our cast consists of people from all walks of life. People who get the stories we are trying to tell, people who have lived the stories, people who create these works with us. By the time Dirty Turk opens, each person participating in the piece will know every aspect of the show and will always be active in their storytelling. There will never be down time in the performance. It is a roller coaster ride that will last about two hours. Wish us luck, send us good juju, whatever you can.
All in all, Artstillery creates original immersive performance pieces which focus on marginalized communities and the rawness of truth in human life.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
During the creation of Welcome Mat, we had formed a relationship with Aya, a teenage Syrian refugee living in Dallas. She helped us create the Welcome Mat as all our participants do. After we performed, our five call to prayers, we witnessed other performers of color speak poetically about their own experiences. Aya, identified with one of the speakers and was moved by her words. After the poet completed her piece, Aya whispered in my ear, ” can I go and hug her?” I said, yes of course, please. Aya walked over and held this other teenager who was in tears after sharing her story. Time stopped for me. I watched two woman from different countries hold one another and in so many ways share an “I feel you” moment. Everyday, I think about just how small I really am. Like an ant only here for a short period of time. No one really cares what pants I have in my closet, how many hours I slept last night, how many different colors of lipstick I own or how my heart has been broken time and time again. I care about some of these things sometimes but in fleeting insignificant moments. However, what I do care about the most, what is most significant to me are the connections we make in life. The people we love, help and live on this planet with. I care that Aya made a connection and through that connection closed a gap that sat in front of us in that very moment.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.artstillery.org
- Phone: 512.994.8832
- Email: info@artstillery.org
Image Credit:
Alisa Eykilis, Hilly Holsonback, Abel Flores Jr., Tnr Zdl, John Lehman
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