New York City, NEW YORK – Project III (People’s Performance Project), a 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission to facilitate collaborations between creators and movement-based artists to redefine performance art as we are disrupted by the digital age, will present its first live event of 2024 at Ki Smith Gallery. On Thursday, February 1, 2024, over an evening dedicated to celebrating new-age collaboration and building community, guests will enjoy a panel discussion by Project III artists, the premiere of our latest short dance film – Escape – and a guest art installation performance by NOPLACE.

As doors open at 7:30 PM EST, guests can take in Kazuki Mitsunaga, the artist behind NOPLACE, painting a large-scale installation art in the basement while dancing to live house music. Guests are encouraged to explore both floors of Ki Smith Gallery and enjoy complimentary beverages provided by Catskill Provisions Pollinator Spirits. At 8:30 PM, audiences are encouraged to interact with the panel of Project III artists featuring founder Kasey Broekema, collaborator Kazuki Mitsunaga, and artists Sadé Murray, Troy Kelley, and Gabi Broekema. The twenty-minute discussion will conclude with a brief Q&A and the exclusive world premiere of our latest short dance film, Escape. The film was produced in Pike’s National Forrest in Colorado and explores the dynamics of a relationship that has come to an end. Guests are encouraged to mingle and enjoy the ambiance in the gallery with another live-hour house music set and continued complimentary drinks. Everyone is invited to the afterparty at SoHo Grand starting at 10:00 PM.

Project III was incorporated in March 2023 and is excited to celebrate its first anniversary pushing the envelope of performance and moving toward a new future of artistic expression in 2024. In our first year of activities, Project III produced seven projects across three countries reaching 38 artists. Our collaboration with Ki Smith Gallery and NOPLACE will be the first of many interactive community nights coming in 2024 and we are excited to celebrate an evening of the arts with you.

Kasey Broekema, Founder of Project III, says, “Escape was an indulgence. When I first started creating this piece on Troy and me back in May 2023, I never even imagined it would end up as a Project. As all creators do, I turned to the studio for refuge when I was experiencing heartbreak. The words, ‘You were my escape,’ stuck with me, and while that may not be how I feel about my relationships with people, that has always been my relationship with dance. I think that’s a very universal feeling toward any art form. It has its ups and downs, but you’ll always remember the joys more than the sorrows.” She continues, “Next thing I know, seven months later, we’re getting on a plane to produce this piece in a national park in Colorado and have the film premiering to audiences in New York City. That’s what’s exciting about each Project and operating outside of a traditional company structure; you can enjoy the freedom of each Project being so unique in the way it comes together. I’m blown away by how Project III’s community has expanded internationally over the past year and I’m looking forward to meeting even more amazing people at this event. It’s going to be a great night.”