^ Shown: Adam Rose at the D/fb inaugural performance event, *SPARK.

A note from Artistic Director, Joseph Ravens:

 
" I always put the cart before the horse. I don't mean for it to happen, it just does. One day not long ago I went out for coffee and passed a beautiful empty storefront and thought, "...this would make a great performance space." I called the number in the window (just out of curiosity) and a few weeks later I was standing in a large empty room wondering what I had gotten myself into.

For months prior to that fateful day I had been dissatisfied with the performance art community in Chicago - I felt it needed a jolt, a sparkrejuvenation. When I moved here in the 90's there were many venues for performance art but eventually they all dried up. Frustrated, I was about to move to New York but at the last minute I decided to stay in Chicago and jump-start the performance scene here. One of our main problems was lack of venue. Dance venues? Check. Theater venues? Check. Performance Art Venues?....wellHey! thats what I should do!! Open a space and create a non profit arts organization that is part studio and part gallery, providing a gathering place in Chicago to conceive, present, and promote performance art and other ephemeral art forms. So I opened DEFIBRILLATOR PERFORMANCE ART GALLERY.

But I've put the cart before the horse. I've started an organization, Ive gathered amazing people around me: a board of directors, hard working interns, and lots of great volunteers. But instead of concentrating on programming or creating art we are consumed by the impossibility of making ends meet. As passionate and disciplined and self sacrificing as we all have been, we really need financial help.

Thats where IndyGoGo comes in. Its a fast, easy and fun way to help us raise our goal of $2500! Get a few friends together and give $50 and artistic director Joseph Ravens will make a custom performance piece just for you!! Presented in front of a live audience and everything

Performance Art Need s a home in Chicago. Help us grow!

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DEFIBRILLATOR is a space to invent, hone and present ephemeral works of art. Exhibitioins may include photography, video, installation, performance and any other medium or art form that is profoundly influenced by time and is therefore transitory, fleeting, or temporary.

DFBRL8R aims to...

> Provide opportunities for emerging and established Chicago artists to conceive and present performance art and other ephemeral forms.

> Present decidedly heterogeneous programming with a focus on international/out-of-town artists and a vast range of styles and forms.

> Build discourse and criticism surrounding performance art.

> Raise awareness of and appreciation for performance art among the general public.

> Cultivate a resourceful and supportive transdisciplinary artistic community.