STL Improv Anywhere is a St. Louis, Missouri-based performance collective that performs in public spaces. Our aim is to add a touch of magic to the lives of fellow urbanites, and encourage members of our community to interact and engage more creatively.
Cinco de Mayo
You guys!! Cinco de Mayo on Cherokee Street is going to be a blast. It would have been a blast without STL IA, but it will be even more of a blast WITH US!! We will be there promoting the upcoming Outsider Art Fair! Per usual, we can’t give out details, but suffice it to say that we will be DEBUTing a little project. Keep eyes and ears peeled. We’ll be out some time between 12 and 3pm, so go out for the celebration and hopefully you’ll run into us!
Hasta el sábado, cabrones.
X
Director Mallory Nezam led a 2-day workshop with The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis’ New Art in the Neighborhood students. They opened up their inner improv-er and created their own Improv Anywhere performance in a cafe! Check out the video shot by Jacob Berkowitz on Day 2 of the workshop, and edited by Mallory and Jacob. Thanks to members Olivia and Emanuel for helping out with the performance.
Pillow Fight was a SMASHing Hit.
Pillow Fights forever! STL IA had a great time hosting and participating in St. Louis’ second International Pillow Fight! We had a group of around 70ish people come out to join the fun.
One noticeable aspect of this event was the diversity of our crowd. St. Louisans of all ages, genders, races and comfort levels came out, which is really what STL Improv Anywhere is all about. I mean, we are about a lot of things (rattling reality, challenging assumptions of the status quo, making people laugh, + more) but at the end of the day, we are instigating these curious moments in public space in order to get people talking to each other, interacting with their neighbors and becoming more active within their city. That happened on Saturday.
At the end of the fight, everyone laid down on the Cricket Field grass and took a communal nap. Strangers were laying next to one another, exhausted and l still doubling over with laughter. It really did happen. People started talking to each other. With 20 minutes on a field with pillows, craziness and a lot of laughter, we built a community. I looked up from my resting spot and saw people overlapping each other, Pillowman surrounded by a swarm of kids.
It’s so simple, but we need to go back to simple. Maybe we just need to get people talking again. We need to create these opportunities for people to be together and share experiences that wipe away the boundaries we’ve created. I think STL Improv Anywhere can do that. We can do that more that discussion forums and town hall meetings will ever be able to. When we’re all sweating, running around and smacking each other with a pillow, it’s all good. We’re all silly, we all have a certain level of our barriers down, and we all just want to simply have fun. Don’t think this is unimportant.
This was the second time that we hosted a large, city-wide event, the first being the No Pants Subway Ride in January. We obviously hope to host more and we will be inviting YOU. Please come out. Join the movement.
Love,
Mallory & all of STL IA
Here’s some of the media coverage of the event:
International Pillow Fight Day is April 7th!
Hey friends. April 7th is International Pillow Fight Day so of course STL Improv Anywhere is making this happen in the city. Details are below. The event is also on Facebook.
WHAT: A city-wide pillow fight. We’re not kidding.
WHEN: Saturday, April 7th at 6pm.
WHERE: Forest Park [Near the intersection of Grand Dr. and Cricket Dr. there is a field at the southeast corner. The festivities will be there. This is very close to the parking lots in front of the MUNY, near Dwight Davis Tennis Center and close to the Visitor Center.]
WHO: You. Me. Everyone. This event is open to and appropriate for all ages.
RULES:
1) First and foremost: NO violence - This is a loving event.
2) Soft pillows only. No zippers, snaps, anything. Just regular pillows. (Tip: Pillows in pillow cases allow for better swinging arc)
3) Swing with love
4) Do not swing at anyone without a pillow or holding a camera
5) Remove your glasses before you jump in
6) NO FEATHERS. Let’s not make a mess.
7) DON’T LEAVE YOUR PILLOWS BEHIND. STL IA doesn’t wanna clean them up!
8) Be cool
9) Since this is Easter Weekend, bunny costumes will be celebrated. Capes are also encouraged.
+ JOIN ZE MADNESS!!! +
DISCLAIMER: All people attending this event do so at their own risk. You are all responsible for your own welfare (and that of others) as well as the preservation of public and personal property. The creators and promoters of this event accept no liability for the actions of its participants.
*thanks to the Fresno group for the tips!
Photos are up!
We posted photos from Family Day at The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. We apologize if you’ve been waiting anxiously. The album can be accessed here.
Happy Valentines Day, St. Louis!
IA had a fantastic time spreading joy all around downtown Clayton.
This event was really incredible for us, because it took us back to why we do what we do. We do it to make people smile, to get that guy in the business suit in the middle of his VERYSERIOUSMEETING to thaw out, to slowly make his way to a full-bellied laugh, to get the cop to give our stuffed animal bear a hug.
Just as you can guess, we got dressed in our most clashing combinations of red, purple and pink, and danced around the streets of Clayton, singing, playing instruments, confessing our love, blowing kisses and handing out home-made Valentine’s cards. The cards themselves were brilliant works of art. We had a card-making party the night before and made everything from recycled paper :)
One wonderful woman that we encountered made the whole day - any maybe the whole year - feel worth it. “You just made my day,” she told us. She had just lost her job and home and has two kids. We gave her a big bear IA hug! But really, she made our day. This is this point, y’all. This is why we do this.
We hope you all had a wonderful V*Day, and remembered that it’s not just about that romantic love stuff; it’s about finding happiness in being with other people. I think IA felt and shared that today.
Share a photo or story with us by responding to our post. You can always contact us via email at saintlouisimprovanywhere@gmail.com.
Much much much love,
The crew of STL Improv Anywhere
(photos of the event are here)
Family Day at The Contemporary Art Museum
This was our third time entertaining at Family Day and it was a blast. For Saturday’s event, we were inspired by Christodoulos Panayiotou’s commentary on the fabrication of power. We created a photobooth in which kids were able to dress up in regal costume pieces, walk the red carpet, and be photographed on the royal throne. Our original concept included Polaroid pictures, but we had last minute technical difficulties and had to go digital instead. Thanks to our awesome, but small team of Emanuel, Olivia, Anne, Linda and Mallory!
Photos of the event will be posted within the next few days. I know you’re dying to see them. Beleive me, we are too. Feel free to contact us in the meantime if you have any questions: saintlouisimprovanywhere@gmail.com
Look out for us this Tuesday during Valentine’s Day! (Don’t forget we have a VDay prep meeting Monday night 5-7 at HQ.
<3,
the STL IA crew
Family Guerilla V-Day Ninjas…
… is a silly grouping of words that combines all of our upcoming events!
STL Impov Anywhere is once again performing at the Contemporary Art Museum’s Family Day, this Saturday the 11th. Families, please bring your young ones and expect something that is in line with the exhibit, will provide you with a funny memory of the event, and is also decidedly regal…
Also, what’s the next holiday on the horizon? Why, Love Day, of course! And you didn’t expect STL Improv Anywhere to keep its mitts off of that one, did you? Silly-pants. We’ll be there. In the square, so to speak (our lonesome little Lou doesn’t really have one… but hopefully, with things like urban entrepreneurship, beefed(or soyed, if you prefer)-up public transit, and, YOURS TRULY, more communal art, we can make the public more pedestrian, more present, and more ____ (insert positive “p” word here). Come Feb 14th, be prepared for a guerilla-style love operation, STL IA style. Constant vigilance!
On a related note, ever-savvy director Mallory Nezam is brewing a wonderful Valentine’s project - for her sweet, dear home town. Partnering with local artists, organizations, and establishments, she’s hoping to put together a Valentine’s card to the City of St. Louis, from its various inhabitants, to eventually be a public art sculpture. Keep your eyes peeled and ears open - at your local café, perhaps! - for an opportunity to declare your love!
See you afoot!
love love love,
STL IA
No Pants Subway Ride 2012 was a BLAST!
We were so delighted by the turn-out for the No Pants Subway Ride. Thanks to everyone who can from far and wide to bring out the magic of our city. A special thanks to those who joined in spontaneously - you are especially inspiring. I hope everyone felt the excitement of doing something crazy with a group of similarly crazy people.
Business as usual. Photo by Kholood Eid.
Too much fun! Photo by Kholood Eid.
This event was about pushing participants out of their comfort zone and feeling empowered by sharing an experience with community - as well as pushing our unsuspecting Metrolink riders our of their comfort zones, shaking up the “every day,” and challenging St. Louisans to consider how we interact in and with our public spaces.
Keep the kids away! These people are crazy! Photo by Kholood Eid.
The event will absolutely be happening next year in January, so check back for announcements.
Our next event may take place during the day on Valentine’s Day. Stay tuned to this website and the Facebook page for more information about the event.
Did you miss the No Pants Subway Ride, or want to see how awesome you were (because you totally were)? Check out the media from the No Pants Subway Ride 2012!
All Voices news article
Riverfront Times article and slideshow by the fabulous Kholood Eid. (PS) Special thanks to RFT for the media that truly captured the spirit of the No-Pants Ride. And also for shouting out to IA!
KSDK video news story.
KTVI video news story.
International No Pants Subway Ride!
No but(t) seriously, The No Pants Subway Ride is this MONDAY, JANUARY 16th, St. LOUIS!!! Here’s the event page on Facebook.
Also, STL IA is submitting to take part in a performance art festival in St. Louis! It’s the first Fringe Festival to hit our town and we’re hoping to be a part of it!
Speaking of being a part of cool things in our glorious city, director Mallory Nezam and member Daniel Waxler were selected on a team to participate in Good Ideas for Good Cities coming to St. Louis this March. Creative teams will be assigned a challenge issued by a local urban leader, then work with that leader to create a potential solution. The teams will present and discuss their solutions at the events in front of live audiences. The St. Louis Beacon also wrote a very informative article about the event and the Good Cities vision.
We hope to see you on the Metrolink this Monday!
