Artists Space

A dynamic mixed media artist, saxophonist, Matana Roberts's artistic practice aims to expose the mystical roots and the intuitive spirit-raising traditions of American creative expression. Their innovative work has forged new conceptual approaches to considering narrativity, history, and political expression within improvisatory structures.

Kate Valk was born in 1949 in Spokane, Washington. She joined The Wooster Group in 1979, beginning as an assistant to Elizabeth LeCompte, whom she worked with on scripts and costumes, and then became a performer in 1980. Since then, she co-created and performed in all the company’s work. Valk has directed three Group works: Early Shaker Spirituals, A Record Album Interpretation; The B-Side, “Negro Folklore from Texas State Prisons,” A Record Album Interpretation; and Get Your Ass in the Water and Swim Like Me. Most recently, she co-directed Symphony of Rats with LeCompte. Valk founded the Group’s Summer Institute for public high school students, now in its 28th year. She has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, among others, and was a mentor with the Rolex Arts Initiative.