Highly stylized text reads: Forgetting Tree. Text underneath reads: A Sensory Garden Conducted by Jes DeVille. The background is a purple topographical map. Our logo—a white cat paw against Saturn's silhouette with our name—is in the bottom right.

Forgetting Tree is a cultural memory project conducted by Jes DeVille.

In 2023, it was co-produced by Queer Cat Productions and Openhaus Athletics.

Visitors journeyed through our garden’s bioluminescence to unearth the story of the Tree of Forgetfulness, reversing an age-old ritual separating humanity from our memory of location and culture through exploitation of land, labor, and living systems.

This work promises to stimulate all of the senses—most especially that of the revolutionary within.

— Nicole Gluckstern, KQED

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR FORGETTING TREE

Theater Bay Area has awarded us two incredible honors:

Open Doors

Our production has taken tangible, intentional steps to increase access for audiences

REFLECTION

OUR PRODUCTION IS BEAUTIFULLY DIVERSE, LIKE OUR BAY AREA COMMUNITY

A caramel skinned Afro-Boricua with loose curly hair, tattoos, and gold facial piercings wears burgundy velvet pants and a green vest bedazzled with sparkling glass. They are sitting in a wicker Peacock chair surrounded by Moroccan rugs and plants.

JES DEVILLE

  • Studying Global & Community Health through University of California, their work bridges the gap between embodiment and environment – using awe as an access-point for social practice. Through an ongoing cultural memory methodology, cirque-cabaret, conjure-arts, and community collaboration DeVille’s efforts herald performance as a means of reconciling the relationships we have with ourselves, our communities, and the lands we call Home.

    Jes’ mission of using a social permaculture framework to design for public wellness is supported by an EcoTherapy certificate from The Earthbody Institute and a Permaculture Design Certification from Occidental Arts & Ecology. Jes is a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science as well as the American Circus Alliance, and continues to tour internationally, sharing all-ages learning journeys alongside performance works for stage and screen. Jes has performed at the Apollo Theater NYC, Fox Theater Oakland, Imperial Vancouver, for PBS series “Kids Do Science“, MTV and more.

    They are grateful to be uplifted as a regenerative artist of Design Science Studio’s inaugural cohort and as a 2021 Artist in Residence (AiR) and Teacher in Training for vertical-dance company Bandaloop.

Actor, Edna Mira Raia (she/her), seated against a blurry brick background. With an open mouth smile, she looks slightly up at the lens, sporting a bright red t-shirt and jean jacket with gray cotton hood and sleeves.

Edna Mira Raia

  • She won Best of SF Fringe 2018 for her solo show, ‘Altars for my Alters,’ which toured to Orlando Fringe. She is also a producer, dramaturg, director and drag artist.

    Visit her website at potatoesmashed.com, follow her on Instagram at @potatoesmashedcomedy, and check out her YouTube channel, @PotatoesMashedComedy.

Portrait of Rawiyah, a Black, fat queer non-binary femme from the chest up.Their eyes are open and they are facing the sun. Their face is framed by a cloud of black magnificently kinky hair.

Rawiyah tariq

  • Their roots are in queer, poly-amorous, fat community. Their tone is reflective of these roots. Their work is informed by how these intersect with their Blackness.

    Magic, massage, storytelling and performance art are tools they use to liberate, heal and reclaim space for marginalized communities and they believe in cohesive and somatic healing and holding practices that align body, mind and spirit.

    Rawiyah Tariq has danced on stages throughout the country with the award winning and internationally traveled troupe Rubenesque Burlesque as Magnoliah Black from 2009 to 2015. As a solo performer their work (often performed on mainstream stages) continues to reflect body liberation, visibility and self possession beyond the static sizest and often racist Eurocentric beauty myth.

    As 2022’s Witch in Residence with The Modern Witches Confluence, one of Diamond Wave’s Theyfriend featured artist and recipient of Queer Cat Production’s Artist Offering Rawiyah has centered and empowered marginalized communities.

    Connect to them on Facebook at facebook.com/RawiyahTariq, Twitter and Instagram at @mammyisdead, and their blog mammyisdead.com. You can also catch them as a feature in the film Fattitude, Heavenly Brown Body, and Rise.

Portrait of Jhia outside with her eyes closed and hands caressing her face.

JHIA JACKSON

  • Jhia uses her background in cheerleading, Dance for Parkinson's programming, and youth volunteer-work as a foundation for her community organizing today. Previously danced with RAWdance, PUSH Dance Co., Urban Bush Women, Joe Goode Annex, and Flyaway Productions.

Janesta poses in a crouched position in a yellow tailored suit with a multicolored patterned button down shirt with white accent makeup looking straight forward.

JANESTA EDMONDS

  • Through their creative vision, they seek to center Black stories, voices, and bodies, free from the constraints of colonialism and patriarchy.

    Visit their website at violetgemsproductions.com, and follow them on Instagram at @Thamagicalien and @violetgemsprods.

A Black woman with black and red dreadlocks in a neon green shirt.

Nailah McGee

  • Her focus on crochet comes from h mother, yet she has used this domestic and traditional skill to make works of impractical fashion.

    Their creations say everything that they cannot yet say. They tend to make clothes outside of their daily comfort zone, but while they’re creating, they’re imagining a version of themselves that would wear anything anywhere!

    Follow Nailah on Instagram at @eastbaycrochet.

An image of Dillon wearing a black latex open faced hood, white dress strapless dress posing behind a vase filled with pink and white roses.

S. Dillon Gardner

  • With a 200 hr Yoga Teaching Certification and certification in Floristry from The New York Botanical Gardens, Dillon’s life before energy work has been dedicated to the mastery of floral arts.

    With the collaboration of plants and cut flowers, Dillon creates botanical dreamscape scene installations and uses fresh and dry florals as tools to facilitate performance rituals for people to experience through Dillon’s domination and play. With the combination with eastern philosophy, medicine and movement, her intimate relationship with cut flowers informs and inspires Gardner’s radical approach to energy work and floral design.

    Follow Dillon on Instagram at @theverydirtygarden.

Portrait of Jessica kneeling outside on the sidewalk, her arms outstretched and looking up to the sky. She's wearing a black spaghetti strap tank top, red pants, and a denim jacket.

Jessica MariA recinos

  • Visit her website at jessicamariarecinos.com, risingrhythm.live, and follow her on Instagram at @jessicamarierecinos.

Portrait of Cellista, a woman sitting on a rock holding a cello on fire.

Cellista

  • These works are acts of resistance art. Employing a politically concerned, observant, and revealing voice, the pieces investigate the ruptures of daily life.

    Visit her website at cellista.net, follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @xcellistax, Facebook at Facebook.com/cellista.music, and check out her work on Bandcamp at cellista.bandcamp.com.

Portrait of Kayla May sitting outside in a Peacock chair adorned with plants. KMPS is wearing a yellow top and leaning forward, looking into the camera.

Kayla May Paz Suarez

  • KMPS was the Associate Artistic Director of SF-based Epiphany Dance Theater developing site-specific performance curriculum, installations, and events. Work includes: Red Ladder Theater, Berkeley Playhouse, and New Conservatory Theater.

    Visit her website at kaylamayps.com and follow them on Instagram at @kaylamay.p.s.

Black and white portrait of Brooks standing to the side, looking away from the camera, unsmiling. He’s wearing a dark hoodie and a wireless earbud is visible in his ear.

Eric “Brooks” Walker

  • The self proclaimed warrior in a garden also holds the titles of Garden Educator, Computer Scientist and a Connoisseur of music.

    Check out his work at goldmindersmedia.bandcamp.com.

Essie Deville

  • You can follow them on Instagram at @essiedeville.

Young white woman with red hair and silver jewelry wearing colorful overalls smiling.

JALUA DELL

  • They want to light a fire in your belly! They fight to share the magical feeling of when someone shares their art with you or when you get to share yours with others.

    They believe this metaphorical fire, created through the exchange of works, has the power to create true change and strengthen community.

    Check out more of Jalua’s work at their website jaluadell.com.

Forgetting Tree takes the shape of an immersive dance-theatre experience, inviting audiences on an enchanted night walk through a curated sensory garden installation.

Together, participants and patrons will regenerate memories of collective resilience through engagement with roots, seeds, blossoms, leaves...and you!

Projections, installations, and an original soundscape will transform the landscape of the Z Space lobby in San Francisco on November 3-5, 2023. our virtual showing will premiere november 12th, 2023.

LIVE PERFORMANCES

LIVE PERFORMANCES OF FORGETTING TREE TOOK PLACE IN THE Z SPACE LOBBY ON NOVEMBER 3, 4, AND 5, 2023.

VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE

THE FORGETTING TREE VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE WAS ONLINE FROM NOVEMBER 12-30, 2023.

    • Z Space is a wheelchair accessible theater and has accessible seating for all shows. ADA ticket types are available at ALL price levels. Bathrooms are wheelchair accessible and are welcoming to all genders. You will be given an opportunity to indicate access needs during the ticket buying process. If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact Z Space’s box office at boxoffice@zspace.org.

    • To protect our most vulnerable community members, masks are required throughout the duration of the performance, and no concessions will be sold.

    • Please direct additional questions to hq@queercatproductions.com.

  • Live ASL interpretation will be available.

  • This show is appropriate for all ages with some mature content.

    If you have specific questions, please reach out at hq@queercatproductions.com.

  • Tickets for our live performances and virtual experience are available on a sliding scale basis.