Alfredo Zapata De Jesús: Concordia (SF)

Submitted by the Event Organizer

ICA San Francisco is pleased to present Concordia, a one-night performance by Alfredo Zapata De Jesús, the latest project in our ongoing CCA Student Series.

Inspired by his coming-of-age as a queer person in the domestic setting of Puerto Rico, Zapata De Jesús’s work connects personal memory to peronía seeds: bright red, highly toxic beads traditionally used in maracas and carried through historical trade routes.

Saturated in red light, the artist will perform with a handmade mask of fabric, metal, and peronía seeds, using voice, rhythm, and movement to activate the space. Looping live keyboard and vocals, Zapata De Jesús builds up a shifting soundscape that moves between restriction and release. As the seeds rattle with each breath, the mask becomes both an instrument and a barrier—drawing a parallel between the physical toxicity of the seeds and the cultural toxicity of machismo and inherited shame.

Concordia is a ritual and a reflection. It asks what it means to live with inherited toxins—chemical and emotional—and how sound may help us heal.

Following the performance, join us for a casual reception with the artist. Refreshments available via suggested donation.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.