CANVAS
CANVAS is a Realtional Art multimedia piece for boxers, musicians, gym sounds, acrylic, and boxing ring canvas. Conceptualized and directed by multidisciplinary artist, creative director, and Chicago Golden Gloves Champion Noelia Cruz and co-mposed with fighters rom the Chicago Park District Boxing Program.
The work features gestural shadow-paintings on 8’ x 8’ panels and kinetic scores as a music compositions performed live by improviser musicians who interpret the boxers’ movements as they see them for the first time.
CANVAS documents in an art film rhythm as medium for a process when the body of work is the body of work.
For its first three presentations the project was developed in collaboration with boxers from the Chicago Park District Boxing Program, including participants from Hamlin Park, Humboldt Park, and Calumet Park. The shadowpainting scores were interpreted live by renowned musicians: Ed Wilkerson, Zachary Good, James Singleton, Roy Preyas, Ethan Cowburn and Johnny Plaza.
Dedication
To my coach Johnny,
for getting me back into rhythm, making me a winner in his book and being unconditionally in my corner.
for getting me back into rhythm, making me a winner in his book and being unconditionally in my corner.
CANVAS
Concept, Direction & Relational Art: Noelia Cruz
Executive Producers: Eighth Blackbird
Production Director: Ethan Cowburn
CANVAS
for improvisers ensemble, boxers, saxophone, clarinet, vibraphone, bass, congas, boxing bell, boxing clappers, boxing sounds and percussion.
Kinetic Score
Co-mposed with shadowboxing movements of Chicago Park District Boxers
Composer
Noelia Cruz
Relational Art Work
Gestural shadow-paintings in collaboration with Chicago Park District Boxers
Conceptual Artist: Noelia Cruz
Conceptual Artist: Noelia Cruz
Interpreted live by the Ensemble
Ethan Cowburn – percussion, collaborator, management
Zachary Good – clarinet
Preyas Roy – vibraphone
James Singleton – bass & trumpet
Johnny Plaza – congas
Ed Wilkerson-saxophone
Ethan Cowburn – percussion, collaborator, management
Zachary Good – clarinet
Preyas Roy – vibraphone
James Singleton – bass & trumpet
Johnny Plaza – congas
Ed Wilkerson-saxophone
Noelia Cruz – boxing bell, clappers, hammer, sound art mix
Chicago Park District Fighters who shadowboxed, shadowpainted, and shadowcomposed in this piece
Abdiel Rosado
Addison
Amory Graves
Anthony Mendez
Ari Davis
Asma Awass
Ayden Sullivan
Brian Ellis
Briana Arias
Charlie Anderson
Daniel Reyes
Darius Mason
Daville Wells
David Díaz-World Champion & Olympian, Hamlin Park
Edwar Arias
Elijah Vazquez
Eric Claudio
Ethan Sosa
Fres Oquendo-World Champion, Hamlin Park
Harry Glass
Ivy Jones
Jaiden Medina
Javier Rodriguez
Jayceon Shelton
Jesus Bermudes
Jonas Rivera
Jordan Johnson
Jose Ortega
Joseph Hernandez
Josiah Denis
Julian Garcia
Juliet LopezLaila Minnifield
Liam Hernandez
Luis Mateo-Champion & Olympian, Humboldt Park
Luis Miranda
Maria Lopez
Marco Colon
Marco Colon Jr.
Nathaniel Perez
Nikolas Cuevas
Nino
Omar Gomez
Phill Smedja
Ramiro Hernandez
Ricardo Valdivia
Samantha Patlan
Sullivan
Susie Lopez
Tellis White Jr.
Tristan Butler
Victoria
Yamileth Gomez
Portage Park Featured Boxers
Adrian Martinez
Shane Dossett
Noel Garcia
Darian Perlata
Alexis Salgado
Night Out in the Parks and Eighth Blackbird
CANVAS Film Production: Noelia Cruz
Photography: Noelia Cruz
Chicago Park District Boxing
Director: Angel Ocasio
Humboldt Park Coach: Johnny Plaza
Hamlin Park Coach: Jesus Cerda
Calumet Park Coach: Clemon Clay
Featured Coach: Henry Marban (Portage Park)
Featured Referee: Nate Holcomb
Special Thanks to:
Ethan Cowburn
Lisa Kaplan, Eighth Blakcbird Director & Founder
Matthew Duvall, Eighth Blakcbird Director & Founder
Humboldt Park Chicago Park District Staff
Nellie Román, Humboldt Park Art Program Director
Raquel Maldonado, Chicago Park District Region Manager
Jesus Pérez, Humboldt Park Supervisor
Richard Blake, Hamlin Park Supervisor
Margaret Halquist, Night Out in the Parks Program Event Coordinator
Lisa Kaplan, Eighth Blakcbird Director & Founder
Matthew Duvall, Eighth Blakcbird Director & Founder
Humboldt Park Chicago Park District Staff
Nellie Román, Humboldt Park Art Program Director
Raquel Maldonado, Chicago Park District Region Manager
Jesus Pérez, Humboldt Park Supervisor
Richard Blake, Hamlin Park Supervisor
Margaret Halquist, Night Out in the Parks Program Event Coordinator
And all the wonderful Park employees who so carefully assisted with this art piece:
Darnell Williams
Jerry Collazo
Amado DeLeon
Eladio Rivera
Ray Calixto
Carmen
Patricia
CANVAS Film
Director: Noelia Cruz
Camera: Noelia Cruz
Editor: Noelia Cruz
Staff, Partners & Collaborators
Panels fabricated in collaboration with: Fabrication 408
Associate Graphic Designer: Randy Ford
Public Relations & Media Manager: Nina D. Sánchez
Web Design & Editorial Consulting: Camila Cruz
Featured Fighter: Joey Borrero
Easel Engineer: Mike Sánchez
CANVAS
© 2025 Noelia Cruz. All Rights Reserved
Panels fabricated in collaboration with: Fabrication 408
Associate Graphic Designer: Randy Ford
Public Relations & Media Manager: Nina D. Sánchez
Web Design & Editorial Consulting: Camila Cruz
Featured Fighter: Joey Borrero
Easel Engineer: Mike Sánchez
Performances Sound Engineering: Eva Duvall & Matthew Duvall
Production Management: Ethan Cowburn
Production Management: Ethan Cowburn
CANVAS
© 2025 Noelia Cruz. All Rights Reserved
Co-mposed and Directed by Noelia Cruz
In this musical sparring live performance, musicians interpret the kinetic and graphic score created from the shadow-painting movements of Hamlin Park Chicago Park District boxers. The boxers’ rhythms and musicality become the visual cues for the ensemble to improvise over.
As the musicians watch the footage for the first time, they respond in real time to fighters’ gestures, tempo, and counter-rhythms.
In CANVAS, artist, boxer, and musician co-compose across mediums, meeting in a corner where their roles become interchangeable and reveal how powerfully art lives within the community.
Musicians:
Ethan Cowburn — percussion
Zachary Good — clarinet, reeds
Preyas Roy — vibraphone
James Singleton — bass & trumpet
Coach Johnny Plaza — congas
Edward Wilkerson Jr. — saxophone, clarinet, yidaki
Noelia Cruz — boxing bell, clappers, hammer, sound art mix
Partners:
Night Out in the Parks, Chicago Park District, Eighth Blackbird 8BB