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NON:op's Immersive Platform for Virtual Performance and Participation
volume 6:10, Deceember 2025
Please join us as we investigate alternative futures through
music, art, poetry, performance, research, observation, and activism. Â
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Welcome to the December Issue of NON:onLINE
WOW!!! What just Happened?!? At the beginning of 2025 we remembered the passing of Ronald Browne, lead researcher of NON:op's SAY THEIR NAMES program. And in the fall, we mourned the passing of Theo Economides, NON:op's board member and techno-creative enabler, a kind and loving soul, and above all, a great and dear friend. In between we commissioned artists, led soundwalks, trained youth researchers, held a salon, worked with Chicago youth on the city's west side, and presented a concert of works responding to SAY THEIR NAMES. WHEW!!
 Inspired by NON:op's Blood Lines project, Ron Browne, an independent researcher, and board member Saba Ayman-Nolley, presented the SAY THEIR NAMES (STN) project to NON:op. Since then, Ron had served as the project's lead researcher, overseeing the research for the STN map and database. In the fall of 2024, we lost Ron to this earthly life. A true servant of humanity, Ronald Wayne Brown's life was focused on peace and justice. A memorial service was held on April 5 at the Baha'i House of Workshop in Wilmette. In late winter, with funding from Healing Illinois, we began the STN Youth Research Internship program. The training team consisted of researcher Omid Nolley, board member Jason Boulware, Chicago Center for Youth Violence Prevention's Myles Francis, and Kwame Steve Cobb, who provided program context. This year's student research interns were James Price and Duriana Brooks. (pictured from left to right are Duriana Brooks, Kwame Steve Cobb, and James Price.)In 2025 NON:op held a call for the first SAY THEIR NAMES commission. Three Black poet-musicians were paid to create work in response to the STN project and map. Commissioned artists were Donna "Dante" Marie Gary, Pugs Atomz, and Dr Tara Betts with Anthony R. Green. (pictured above) Artists made short presentations at the STN Salon and performed their work on a November 15 concert at Theatre Y.
 The seventh year of Hear Below: Listening to Chicago Underground took place in April through early May, and featured online maps, recordings, and images to create your own pedway soundwalk. Guided soundwalks were led by Jeanette Dominguez, Sam Anthem, and Allen Moore. (pictured at left is Allen Moore leading listeners through the Block 37 portion of the pedway) On June 6, NON:op held a Salon to honor the work done on the SAY THEIR NAMES project, the research interns, and the commissioned artists. The Salon was hosted by Experimental Station, with food provided by Pearl's. Speakers included Kwame Steve Cobb, Myles Francis, Theo Economides, Omid Nolley, and the interns and commissioned artists. With support from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, 2025 was our second year of Listening Across Neighborhoods programing. This year's sound teaching artists included Sam "Afi" Anthem, Mira Simonton-Chao, Marco Gonzalez, Allen Moore, and youth leadership and public speaking trainer Phillip Purkett. Guest artists included Marvin Tate, Damon Locks, and Alex Boutros. Participating youth came together from neighborhoods throughout Chicago including Garfield Park, North Lawndale, West Pullman, Lincoln Square, Logan Square, Monticello, Chatham, Galewood, Burnside, Belmont Cragin, and East Side. In September we lost board member, techo-creative enabler, and dear friend Theo Economides. His sudden death has created a vacuum in the organization and in our hearts. Theo was NON:op's rock—joyful and patient beyond all measure. Whenever I came to him with a problem, and I was at my wits end, Theo would calmly talk me off the ledge, and usually with a bit of humor, come up with the perfect solution. Theo was the one person that lit up a space without saying a whole lot. He was up for anything, showing up with a smiling face, a can-do attitude, and often a joke.Make a donation in memory of Theo Economides.
We miss you, Theo!
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STN Commission Concert
Saturday, November 15 at 7pm
Congratulation to Donna "Dante" Marie Gary, Pugs Atomz, and Dr. Tara Betts for a wonderful and moving concert of poetry, music, and video us on November 15 at Theatre Y in North Lawndale. Donna presented her commissioned poem, "For Us", with percussionist, , and several other poems. For his set, Pugs presented the music video, "And All They Can Say" and other videos. And Dr. Tara Betts read "No Replica in the Rubble" along with other poems.
Congratulations to all of the commission artists. And stay tuned for an announcement for the 2026 SAY THEIR NAMES commission call for proposals in early 2026.
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Heliogabalus at Elastic Arts!
Improvised Music Series, Elastic Arts
December 11, 2025
Heliogabalus is Eric Leonardson, springboard; Lili Wosko, cello; Andy Cohn, piano; Christophe Preissing, flutes, voice, noise box; with special guest, Tatsu Aoki, shamisen. Heliogabalus, or Elagabalus, in honor of the god his family worshiped, was a Roman emperor known for their extravagant and eccentric behavior. Like Heliogabalus, the group's improvisations are unrestrained, elaborate, ornate, and excessive.
Special Guest, Tatsu Aoki, is a multi-instrumentalist trained in traditional Japanese music, educator and experimental filmmaker.
(Note: Ben Zucker was unavailable to perform at Elastic and does not appear in the video.)
Big Thank You to Molly and the staff at Elastic Arts!
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[ NEW PROGRAM ]Â Equipment Sharing Program
TEMPORARILY ON HOLD
Do you need AV equipment for your next show or project,
but can't afford to purchase or rent it?
?
NON:op Arts and Humanities is now offering audio and video equipment and services to other small Chicago non-profit organizations and individuals with whom we share a vision and creative aesthetic. This high-quality gear—purchased with funding from DCASE's CARP grant—may be used for both in-person and live-stream productions. Equipment and services will be made available at a very reasonable rate and/or in exchange for equipment and resources that we do not have.
Click HERE or above for more information about this exciting new program
or contact non@nonopera.org
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[ PARTICIPATE ]Â 2026 Performances and Events Preview
Mark your calendars for the following 2026 performances and Events:
- February 1: Lost Words: Stacks, Room 1 of a collaborative installation with book artist Amanda Love, Chicago International Puppet Festival, Theatre Y
- Early 2026: Announcement of STN Commission call for proposals
- July-August 2026: Lost Words: Stacks and Sorting Room, parts 1 & 2 of a collaborative installation with book artist Amanda Love, Theatre Y
- Summer 2026: Season three of Listening Across Neighborhoods
- August 2026: Lost Words: Room 3 of a collaborative installation with book artist Amanda Love, Theatre Y
- September 2026 - May 2027: Lost Words, Room 4 of a collaborative installation with book artist Amanda Love, Cleveland Public Library
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[ WOW ] Fundraising News!
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IMPACT THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES: JOIN THE NON:op BOARD!
NON:op is growing, and like many organizations coming out of the pandemic, we are growing with projects, installations, and performances. It's quite an exciting time for us! Are you savvy about one or more aspects of running a non-profit? Join our board of directors. Do you have a passion for planning engaging events and projects? Join our programming committee. For more information, contact Christophe at non [at] nonopera [dot] org. And to find out more about NON:op Arts and Humanities and our initiatives visit our WEBSITE.
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Governing and Programming Board Positions
Do you believe in the work we are doing? If so, please contact non [at] nonopera [dot] org to find out how you can support NON:op as a Board member. NON:op is seeking creative, passionate, and inspired individuals to join our board of directors in one of the following roles:
Programming Committee
The programming committee meets monthly with the artistic director and is responsible for supporting current programming and devising and producing future programming and events.
Governing Committee
The governing committee is responsible for finances, governance, and legal matters in support of the organization and its programming. The governing committee meets once per quarter and is joined by members of the programming committee.
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 Volunteer, Intern, and Other OpportunitiesNON:op is seeking volunteers, interns, participants, assistants, artists, and all who have creative ideas and who would like to work with NON:op to implement a shared vision. Please contact Christophe at non [at] nonopera [dot] org if you would like to find out more and join us as we create an alternative future.
Click here to order and support NON:op and its artists. |
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Thank you for taking care of each other by staying indoors and practicing social distancing.
We hope you and yours are well and staying safe as we work to create an alternative future.
SHARE. INTERACT. COLLABORATE.
Christophe, Saba, Theo, Ja Nelle, Jason, and all of NON:op's creatives, staff, volunteers, and interns
NON:op is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Please consider supporting NON:op's program initiatives, creatives,
and mission with a donation today.
All donations are tax deductible according to federal guidelines. Thank you. Â
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Inspired by NON:op's Blood Lines project, Ron Browne, an independent researcher, and board member Saba Ayman-Nolley, presented the SAY THEIR NAMES (STN) project to NON:op. Since then, Ron had served as the project's lead researcher, overseeing the research for the STN map and database. In the fall of 2024, we lost Ron to this earthly life. A true servant of humanity, Ronald Wayne Brown's life was focused on peace and justice. A memorial service was held on April 5 at the Baha'i House of Workshop in Wilmette.
In late winter, with funding from Healing Illinois, we began the STN Youth Research Internship program. The training team consisted of researcher Omid Nolley, board member Jason Boulware, Chicago Center for Youth Violence Prevention's Myles Francis, and Kwame Steve Cobb, who provided program context. This year's student research interns were James Price and Duriana Brooks. (pictured from left to right are Duriana Brooks, Kwame Steve Cobb, and James Price.)
The seventh year of Hear Below: Listening to Chicago Underground took place in April through early May, and featured online maps, recordings, and images to create your own pedway soundwalk. Guided soundwalks were led by Jeanette Dominguez, Sam Anthem, and Allen Moore. (pictured at left is Allen Moore leading listeners through the Block 37 portion of the pedway)
On June 6, NON:op held a Salon to honor the work done on the SAY THEIR NAMES project, the research interns, and the commissioned artists. The Salon was hosted by Experimental Station, with food provided by Pearl's. Speakers included Kwame Steve Cobb, Myles Francis, Theo Economides, Omid Nolley, and the interns and commissioned artists.
With support from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, 2025 was our second year of Listening Across Neighborhoods programing. This year's sound teaching artists included Sam "Afi" Anthem, Mira Simonton-Chao, Marco Gonzalez, Allen Moore, and youth leadership and public speaking trainer Phillip Purkett. Guest artists included Marvin Tate, Damon Locks, and Alex Boutros. Participating youth came together from neighborhoods throughout Chicago including Garfield Park, North Lawndale, West Pullman, Lincoln Square, Logan Square, Monticello, Chatham, Galewood, Burnside, Belmont Cragin, and East Side.
In September we lost board member, techo-creative enabler, and dear friend Theo Economides. His sudden death has created a vacuum in the organization and in our hearts. Theo was NON:op's rock—joyful and patient beyond all measure. Whenever I came to him with a problem, and I was at my wits end, Theo would calmly talk me off the ledge, and usually with a bit of humor, come up with the perfect solution. Theo was the one person that lit up a space without saying a whole lot. He was up for anything, showing up with a smiling face, a can-do attitude, and often a joke.
Volunteer, Intern, and Other Opportunities
