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Billings Gazette, Friday, August 3, 2018, E6 HaltForce performance residency geared to change views on artistry By Charity Dewing cdewing@billingsgazette.com Photo courtesy P. Emerson: Kate Jordan and Bruno Augusto will be part of HaltForce Art Collective's upcoming residency program. HaltForce Art Collective is bringing together artists from across the country for a two-week residency to explore performance art with loosely conceptualized ideas. From Aug. 3-18, resident artists will perform, teach and host co-creation workshops throughout Billings. Many of the events are free or donation-based. A performance salon featuring many of these resulting creations will take place on Aug. 11 at 2905 Montana Ave. HaltForce Art Collective, founded in 2017 by Krista Leigh Pasini and her partner, Mike, is a co-op of multidisciplinary artists, meaning the art — no matter what it is — embraces a vast assortment of art forms, resulting in a creative work. The residency is nontraditional in many ways. “Many of the artists live in Billings but are treating it as if they are somewhere else and commit all of their focus to their work,” said Pasini. Whether it is dancing, spoken word, singing, written word, music or visual art, HaltForce is about not pressing art into a certain definition or expectation. “It is outside of the traditional performance venue, where an event is held for one evening or one occasion,” said Pasini. Instead, the residents at HaltForce will perform at various locations around Billings. The concept is to allow residents and observers the opportunity to share, study, discuss and participate in the art. “Even a witness to art is part of the dialogue,” said Pasini. Some of the happenings include artistic co-creations at Sky Studio, allowing independent artists to participate in selected performance venues in the evening. Participants are also welcome to just take time to organically create and not perform; HaltForce is about the experience of the moment. “If someone comes to a co-creation and is given a prompt, their interpretation of that may come out in poetry or music. Others may create choreography or begin an improvisational dance — it’s about whatever serves you creatively,” Pasini said. Phot by Ted Kim: Krista Leigh Pasini founded HaltForce Art Collective in 2017 with fellow artist and partner Mike Pasini. Other events involve classes for Afro Cuban modern dance at the Montana Dance Center and performances at 2905. Pasini and the collaborative artists of HaltForce are aiming to foster art in Billings and unearth artists that have not yet had the opportunity to become active in the community. “Billings is so rad in that way. We have so many unknown artists,” Pasini said. With the hopes of facilitating new avenues of thinking about art, HaltForce encourages all artists and spectators to see that art is multidimensional, one form lending its hand to another. Whatever the source of inspiration, embrace the moment and see what happens. “We want participants to be present in the space. It’s a curation of self, who we are and what we are making,” Pasini said. For more information go to haltforceartcollective.com. Photo courtesy Sharen Bradford: With her back to the camera, Erica Gionfriddo performs "In the Ether." Gionfriddo is one of several artists taking part in an upcoming residency with HaltForce Art Collective in Billings. If You Go As part of the two-week HaltForce Art Collective residency, participants will be performing and creating at sites around Billings. Aug. 8: Introductions with Kate and Bruno, a studio presentation with Kate Jordan and Bruno Augusto at Montana Dance Center, 701 Daniel St. at 7 p.m. Aug. 9: Afro Cuban Modern dance class with Kate and Bruno at Montana Dance Center, 701 Daniel St. 5-6:30 p.m. Aug. 6-10: Co-Creation studio sessions hosted at Sky Studio, 101 Lewis Ave. Aug. 11: An evening performance salon hosted at 2905 Montana Ave. $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Aug. 13-16: Co-creation studio sessions hosted at 2905 Montana Ave. Aug. 17: "Open office" studio performance hosted at 2905 Montana Ave.