Wave Pool was excited to host our first performance Artist in Residence, Natusha Croes from May-June, 2017.

Croes is based in Aruba with an affinity for creating music in an unconventional process. During her time in Cincinnati she pursued her interest in the spaces in Camp Washington that allow residents to interact and relate or reflect.

In her own words, “I’m always trying to recognize a space around me as performative or playful. During these last few years I have been trying to incite a playground thru the installations and spaces I have set up. Most of the performances I have done so far required an involvement. I’m mostly developing works that begs for a dialogue.” 

 Croes’ first performance output from her residency at Wave Pool happened during the opening reception for ‘Still They Persist’ on May 20th, 2017. Playing in collaboration with two local Camp Washington musicians, Vince Hillman and Aaron Watkins, Croes activated a hanging sound sculpture constructed out of scrap metal from Garden St. Metal Refinery, electronic sound equipment, and a living cactus. The three rehearsed for a week prior, and the act of performing together became just as much about developing a conversation and an understanding between the traditional and untraditional, rhythmic and experimental, as it was about performing for the audience.

Croes continued this exploration with more local experimenters. On June 11th from 11 AM until 3 PM, she conducted a workshop/exchange session that unfolded the possibility of transforming objects into instruments. Participants engaged in the creation of a sound object out of found materials through the guidance of Croes. After creating the piece, participants went on a “walking jam session”, exploring a variety of industrial and unsuspecting spaces both indoors and outdoors through Camp Washington in which to play together improvisationally. 

Croes states, “I create sound objects that don’t have a correct way of being played, so that I can be like a child when I perform. I am always seeking a way to be curious and playful with my work and I hope to collaborate with others to do the same.”

Croes conducted one more performance during her stay, on the rooftop of Wave Pool on June 9th from 9-10PM. Passersby, neighbors, and attendees experienced a flood of sound through the streets coming from above as Natusha performed. The LIVE rooftop performance entailed an audio experience with sounds of Camp Washington in correlation with a variety of sound samples of "the whales" / train tracks located in our vicinity. 

Art Space is Your Space was funded in 2017 by a grant from The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation.