Artstillery
Founded in 2016, Artstillery produces experimental and immersive works centered around issues of racial, cultural, and social injustice. Sometimes a story needs a storyteller, but that starts with listening. Our process begins with research using a combination of community outreach and interviews. We combine these stories with an interdisciplinary artistic approach that creates a ‘total theatre’ experience. Artstillery’s goal is to give voice to people who feel they have none. Learn more HERE.
Ilknur Ozgur (Founder, Artstillery)
Morgana Wilborn (Core Team Member, Artstillery)
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Event: Alysia Harris in Conversation with Artstillery
MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKERS….
Ilknur Ozgur
Ilknur Ozgur (she/her) is the Founder & Director of Artstillery, a nonprofit immersive performance art company based in Dallas, Texas. Artstillery aligns with community partners and produces artistic experiences based on true narratives. Originally from Chicago, Ilknur started her writing journey in partnership with individual artists wanting to create solo original works. “Jaspora: Imitation Haitian” was created alongside powerful writer/performer Nancy Moricette and toured the New York InternationalFringe Festival. She also workshopped original pieces from writer Suzan-Lori Parks within ChicagoPuerto Rican communities with Urban Theatre Co. One of her favorite experiences was working alongside Miguel Pinero (Nuyorican Poets Cafe in NY) to produce his works as immersive experiences inside small street-facing urban spaces. Rhythms from Hip Hop, Rap, Street Poets, and CommunityNarratives have always been the grounding force behind Ilknur’s work. When serving as an instructor of Performance Art and Communications at the university level, she thoroughly enjoyed sharing experiences with her students and devising interpretive pieces for performance competitions across the United States. Ilknur proudly served as an Arts & Culture Commissioner representing Dallas District 6. She currently resides on the TACDC Creative Place-Making Task Force under the NEA, she is an artistic liaison to Dallas City Homes advising on the creation of shared spaces and runs the creative place-making initiatives at 723, a warehouse located in West Dallas. Her most recent speaking engagement was on the TACA Perforum Stage: REimagine: The Future Of The Arts, November 2021. Ilknur believes in shattering hierarchical structures created in traditional spaces. She believes in and works to develop self-sustaining artist ecosystems encompassing people from all backgrounds, skill sets, and passions.
Morgana Wilborn
MORGANA WILBORN (she/her/hers) is a Dallas, TX native. She is a proud graduate of the University of North Texas (BA, Theater), and The University of Houston (MA, Theater Education). Morgana is a Core Team member for Artstillery and has worked with the organization since 2019. For the past 13 years, she has served the community as an arts educator/administrator. She currently serves as Co-Managing Director at DNAWORKS LLC, Dialogue and Healing Through the Arts. She recently served as Director of Education at Dallas TheaterCenter (DTC) and continues as an Adjunct Professor of Theater and Humanities at Eastfield and El Centro College, and now University of North Texas, Dallas. Prior to serving for DTC and DNAWORKS, she served 8 years as a theater director and instructor for Dallas ISD. She has directed and acted for the stage with companies such as Bishop Arts Theater Center, University of North Texas, TheaterMakers Studio, Kitchen Dog Theatre, SMU Meadows School of the Arts, Stage West Theater, Soul Rep Theatre, Cara Mia Theatre Company, WaterTower Theater, and House Party Theatre. As a proud African American artist, educator, and activist, Morgana hopes to honor, uplift, and empower bodies of culture in her service to the community through mindful engagement and equitable collaboration.