TICKETS $15

Doors 3:30 p.m.; Event 4 p.m.
Select Showtime to Purchase Tickets

Click here to learn more about accessibility at the Tomorrow Theater. 

THE EXPERIENCE

Performance artist Ashley Yang-Thompson and author Jaydra Johnson lead a collaborative pimple porn presentation on the idea of “Cringe”. Cringe has become a referent for overly earnest, uncool, or passe behavior. But what if cringe vulnerability is actually the path to freedom? In this collaborative presentation, Ashley and Jaydra will reach their hands deep inside the belly of cringe, feel around in the viscera, and ultimately expose its guts. Through images, video, and readings of their work, they will trace the development of their understanding of cringe as a way of life and the apogee of artistic expression. They will even risk doing something as cringeworthy as quote David Foster Wallace when he says, “The new rebels might be artists willing to risk the yawn, the rolled eyes, the cool smile… who treat of plain, old, untrendy human troubles and emotions with reverence and conviction.”  With musical guest Alex Wilson. 

ON SCREEN: CRINGE

Performance artist Ashley Yang-Thompson and author Jaydra Johnson present a discussion and presentation on the idea of “Cringe”. Cringe has become a referent for overly earnest, uncool, or passe behavior. But what if cringe vulnerability is actually the path to freedom? In this collaborative presentation, Ashley and Jaydra will reach their hands deep inside the belly of cringe, feel around in the viscera, and ultimately expose its guts. Through images, video, and readings of their work, they will trace the development of their understanding of cringe as a way of life and the apogee of artistic expression. They will even risk doing something as cringeworthy as quote David Foster Wallace when he says, “The new rebels might be artists willing to risk the yawn, the rolled eyes, the cool smile… who treat of plain, old, untrendy human troubles and emotions with reverence and conviction.”  With musical guest Alex Wilson. 

ON STAGE: 

Ashley Yang-Thompson – The product of a Chinese immigrant and a white polygamist from Fort Scott, Kansas, Ash has been a performance artist since the day she was ruthlessly shoved out of the safety of her mother’s womb. Her art has been exhibited at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum and the Museum of Moving Image, as well as numerous national and international spaces. Still Worm (Bateau Press, 2025) is her first full-length book. www.ashleyyangthompson.com

Jaydra Johnson – Jaydra is the author of Low: Notes on Art & Trash, selected by Maggie Nelson for publication with Fonograf Editions. She is also the recipient of the 2025 Firecracker Award in Creative Nonfiction. You can find more of her work (or get in touch <3) at www.jaydrajohnson.com

Alex Wilson – Alex Reed Wilson is an artist, archivist, and critic. His art practice spans music, performance, text, and sound. He’d like to have a bigger garden. www.definitelyalabel.bandcamp.com