A Chinese proverb states that an invisible red thread of destiny connects us all. It is said that though it may stretch or tangle, this thread will never break. Red Thread Commons (RTC) seeks to bring together small performance ensembles of citizen-artists to tell their own stories, thus revealing the unbreakability of our human bond.
RTC employs the mythical phases of The Hero’s Journey, as defined by Joseph Campbell, to structure both the process and the Red Thread stories that are told. First, the citizen-artist encounters the Departure stage, where they prepare for their storytelling journey. Next, they enter the Initiation stage where ensemble members must overcome creative challenges to bring their stories to life. And, finally, in the Return stage, the citizen-artists return to their communities to perform the polished and interwoven Red Thread stories.
See the Departure, Initiation, and Return exhibit pages for a more detailed view of the process.