Pallas Athena

Exit Strategies practices ways of getting out of our heads and into action.

Crises often come in waves. A swell with economic downturn is followed by a surge in reports of state violence, followed by the elimination of life-saving health care, and so on, with our personal sorrows bobbing on top. Each new crisis met with a resolution to “do something”, but what?

For many of us, this is so overwhelming that it paralyzes us in inaction. Leaving us to ignore the pain until the urgency eventually ebbs, and we can go about our days until the next wave crashes.

Though there is no way to be prepared for every crisis, we can train ourselves to break this standstill and take steps towards action. We can start by rehearsing the future we want in the present.

Exit Strategies uses methodologies and ideas from movement practice (both as in moving a body and organizing a body of people) and formmaking/form-giving*. To practice building a habit of making and taking action, in dialogue with the environment, the people, and the materials around us.

In 2026, these methods will be explored in seven workshops led by designers and artists who work with the body and in dialogue with other bodies.

In April, we will work with Curious Fleury to explore movement through garments. In May, we will build structures for sharing with Mylo Mendez, make tools for lettermaking with Grace Han, and map queer histories with Nat Pyper. Over the summer, we will embody memories through decorations with Alexandra Falagara and work with Sara Duell to create books that extend our bodies.

The learnings and explorations of these workshops will be collected in a collaborative publication. This publication will be used in an October workshop with Sara Kaaman to practice performing texts through your voice and body.

This all will set the stage for a public performance in Fall 2026. An invitation to follow.

The workshops are free and open to the public and will take place at The Woods rehearsal space in Ridgewood, NY. Each workshop is 3 hours long and limited to 10 participants. Sign-up is available a few weeks before the workshop date. Register through the links below.

*Formmaking/formgiving: Making form and giving it away. These words serve as an extension of design and graphic design to me. Formgivning is the Swedish word for graphic design (though you can also say grafisk design too).

Experiencing Garments for and in Movement with Curious Fleury (she/they)

Sign up here to attend the workshop

Friday, May 1, 3-6 pm

Building Structures for Sharing with Mylo Mendez (they/them)

Saturday, May 16, 3-6 pm

Toolmaking for Lettermaking with Grace Han (she/her)

Saturday, May 30, 3-6 pm

Mapping Queer Histories with Nat Pyper (they/them)

Sunday, June 21, 1-4 pm

Embodying Memories through Decoration with Alexandra Falagara (she/her)

Friday, July 10, 5-8 pm

Making Books that Extend Our Bodies with Sara Duell (she/her)

Sunday, October 10, 1-4 pm

Performing Publications with Sara Kaaman (she/her)

Pallas Athena Projects is a project by Sara Duell.
Typeset in enby gertrude Valentin Chauveau and Léna Salabert-Triby published by Typotheque Bye Bye Binary.
Supported by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Architectural League of New York, the 2025 Independent Projects Grants.