Reflections So Far: A Mid-Year Look from the Inside

Working at Black C Productions this year has been a constant reminder that art doesn't have to explain itself to be understood. With every Artwalk and performance so far, we’ve questioned what we know and how we perceive the world around us, not with an agenda, but with open eyes and honest imagination.

What do we really see when we look? Do we need language to make sense of it? Or can feeling be enough? Each experience this year has been its own kind of mirror, showing something back to us, whether clear or unexpected. What’s surfaced in that reflection has been powerful, sometimes quiet, sometimes bold, but always real.

Each exhibition has offered something different, but they all share a common thread: they reflect the world back at us, not as it is, but as it might be. They challenge us to stay open, curious, and a little uncomfortable.

We started the year in January with Mirrors! Mirrors! on the Floor, which truly set the tone. It wasn’t just an Artwork, it was an experience. At the center of the gallery was a large mirrored structure that blurred the line between viewer and artwork. You couldn’t look at the piece without also looking at yourself. It asked us to notice how we take up space, how we move, how we watch. Was it an installation? Performance? A social experiment? Maybe all three. Sometimes, you become the art.

February and March brought Unfinished Stories by Lilyana Dvoryanova, during her art residency at Black C. Some works came from her exhibitions in Bulgaria, others were created right here during her time in Gainesville. Together, they offered a glimpse into stories still waiting to be finished. The result was dreamlike but grounded, and made me reflect on how often we project our own meaning onto things when we’re given the space to.

In April and May, we presented “Architexture” by Ani Collier in Big Apple, which reimagines the cityscape of New York. This piece is immersive and rhythmic, like stepping into the pulse of the city itself. Layers of buildings, sidewalks, and mirrored windows folded into one another through distortion, repetition, and visual echo. It felt like the architecture was alive, constantly shifting as we moved through it.

In May, we presented “Untitled,” a collaborative, improvisational performance featuring Ani Collier, Warhol Caldwell, Tom Miller, and Terry Ford. The piece unfolded in an empty space lined with mirrors and props, inviting the audience into an exploration of movement, identity, and transformation. Ani's performance delved into themes of aging and self-perception, using props like a ball, high heels, and a pink parasol to blur the lines between performer and observer. The performance was a reflective and immersive experience that challenged traditional performance boundaries.

Looking back at the first half of the year, it’s clear that we never set out to follow a linear path. Instead, we let imagination surface naturally, piece by piece.

As we move into the second half of 2025, I don’t know what’s coming. But I know we’ll keep asking the right questions. And we’ll keep making space for others to ask their own.

-Caroline Murray, Multimedia Strategist