Toshi Reagon in Residence: Now That We Are Here

The Greene Space Artist in Residence program hands the mic to ambitious artists, curators, and collectives eager to connect with live audiences, creating something new together in real time.

Toshi Reagon is a multi-faceted artist with a profound ear for sonic Americana who has made an unforgettable mark on the world of music, theater, and activism.

Reagon’s residency at The Greene Space, Now That We Are Here, envisions a world born from a fusion of music, storytelling, and conversation and illuminates the parallels between Octavia E. Butler’s dystopian terrain depicted in her Parable book series and the challenges we face. Channeling the spirit of Butler’s protagonist Lauren Oya Olamina and her Earthseed Belief System, Reagon empowers us to explore our control (agency) and independence (autonomy) in the face of technology, and harness the power of collective action within our communities to navigate the uncertainties ahead.

As a singer, composer, musician, curator, and producer, Reagon has showcased her immense talent through residencies at prestigious institutions such as Carnegie Hall and the Paris Opera House, as well as numerous festivals and venues worldwide.

In 2018, Reagon founded Wise Reagon Arts, a production company initially created to bring the opera “Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower ” to life. Co-created and composed by Reagon and singer, composer, scholar, producer, and activist Bernice Johnson Reagon, this congregational opera draws inspiration from Butler’s novels Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents. Since its debut, the opera has traveled to three continents, captivating over 45,000 audience members. Reagon also developed the Parable Path, which fosters collaboration among artists, art presenters, community activists, and creators across various disciplines, and Songs of the Living, an initiative that builds community choirs and fosters collaborations with local artists and creatives across the globe.

Leadership support for The Greene Space’s Artist in Residence program is provided by the Jerome L. Greene Foundation. Additional support is provided in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, the Howard Gilman Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.