At Arts Services Inc. (ASI), we’re all about the transformative power of the arts and love finding ways to uplift the artists and organizations in our Western New York Community. That’s why we’re proud to administer the David R. Fendrick Theatre Fund, a grant that champions innovative projects and amplifies underrepresented voices in theater.

The David R. Fendrick Theatre Fund was established in memory of David Roos Fendrick (1941-1988), a talented actor, director, writer, and scholar who left an enduring mark on the Western New York arts scene. With a career that spanned regional theaters across the country, Fendrick is remembered for his remarkable performances, including a celebrated one-man show that remains Buffalo’s longest-running theatrical production.

Every other year, this grant empowers individual artists and creatives by funding projects that push the boundaries of traditional theater. This year, we are thrilled to announce Avye Alexandres (she/her) as the recipient of the Fendrick Theatre Fund.

Spotlight on Avye Alexandres

Avye Alexandres is a visionary, Buffalo-based artist, whose performance practice spans the fields of theatre, performance art, and expanded-cinema. With a background in Photography and Theatre, and an MFA in Art, Avye brings a unique perspective to her work, exploring psycho-spatial questions and human connection. Her Fendrick funded project, Compass, is an ambitious and immersive experience that follows four women as they navigate the complexities of leaving home.

Exploring Autonomy

Compass intertwines live performances with a four-channel audiovisual installation, placing the audience in a unique position to explore the narrative from multiple perspectives. Through this work, Avye delves into themes of independence, desire, and the tension between the known and the unknown. The piece resonates with urgent questions of women’s autonomy, societal expectations, and safety in domestic situations.

By combining live performance with video production to break down the fourth wall, the audience is invited to engage deeply with the emotional realities of her characters, challenging them to consider their own interpretations and assumptions. The performances will be a blend of nuanced storytelling, dynamic choreography, and audio immersion, creating an experience that is both thought-provoking and visually captivating.

The Artistic Journey

As the lead writer and director of Compass, Avye is dedicated to developing the intricate emotional journeys of each character, crafting their backgrounds and motivations into a compelling narrative. The project is currently in the pre-production phase, with auditions underway to select a diverse cast that reflects the rich tapestry of experiences that women face today.

The intricate stories featured in Compass, along with its diverse artistic elements, have led Avye to collaborate with other creative professionals. Marissa Graves (she/they) serves as a multifaceted Development Partner and is part of the writing team along with Johnette “Ja” Warren-Askew (she/her) and Rachelle Toarmino (she/her) who contributed their storytelling and acting expertise in the initial film explorations.

The concept for Compass originated more than six years ago and has been slowly evolving and taking shape ever since. In 2023, the project received a Support for Artists Grant from New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), through the Buffalo International Film Festival marking “a fruitful development period with fellow creatives” and allowed the early development team to focus on building the thematic foundation, implementing processes for character profiles, and beginning explorations into soundscape possibilities with experimental composer Francisco Corthey. Throughout 2024, with a Fiscal Sponsorship from New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), which allowed for initial seed funding through the Tri-M Foundation the focus has been on moving the project into active pre-production phase. Compass is set to premiere in Buffalo in late 2025, with a work-in-progress event in the works for Spring 2025. This event will offer the community a chance to witness the process of improvisatory movement work and engage with the themes Avye is exploring.

Join Avye on This Creative Journey

We invite you to learn more about Avye Alexandres and her inspiring project, Compass. As we support her journey, we hope you’ll join us in celebrating the power of the arts to foster empathy and understanding in our community.

For more details about Avye, her project, please visit her website, NYFA’s Compass page, and Sign up to receive her newsletter for the inside scoop on Compass.

———-

Compass is a fiscally sponsored project of the New York Foundation for the Arts with funding provided by the Tri-M Foundation. Development support for Compass was made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, through a 2023 Support for Artists Grant, sponsored by The Buffalo International Film Festival​.