Creative Scholarship Spotlight: Matt Pardo

On September 19th and 20th, 2023, Matt Pardo and his producing partner Caitlin Scranton brought an unforgettable blend of art and performance to the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum, alongside the legendary choreographer Lucinda Childs. As part of the museum's Sections/Intersections exhibition, the event featured a special presentation of Dance (1979), a groundbreaking contemporary art video collaboratively created by Lucinda Childs, composer Philip Glass, and artist Sol LeWitt.

The program began with Childs engaging the audience in a thought-provoking discussion about Dance, sharing insights into its creation and enduring significance. This was followed by an adaptation of a solo performance from Dance, performed by Caitlin Scranton of the Lucinda Childs Dance Company. The performance featured movement scores by Childs, with Matt Pardo appearing in the exhibition video. 

As producers of this special talk and performance, Matt and Caitlin facilitated Lucinda Childs’ visit to the museum, providing a unique platform to celebrate her artistic legacy. In addition to the performance of the Dance 2 solo, Childs and Hileman Waitoller engaged in a lively Q&A session, deepening the audience's connection to the work. 

Beyond the event, Matt and Caitlin had the extraordinary opportunity to witness the behind-the-scenes curation of a major Picasso statue exhibition. Guided by one of the foremost experts on Picasso and a member of the Picasso Trust, they explored this monumental exhibit before its unveiling, an experience that added another layer of inspiration to their visit. 

Matt and Caitlin were able to leverage the momentum from this project into an international tour of FOUR NEW WORKS by Lucinda Childs. The program premiered in Hamburg, Germany in 2024, and continues to tour five other European capitals, with Matt producing and performing at every stop. Matt Pardo’s work continues to blend performance, scholarship, producing, and collaboration, amplifying the voices of iconic artists and bringing new dimensions to the world of contemporary dance and art.