This project unfolded in real time and in deep conversation with sound and performance.

For the opening ceremony of the 9th National Conference on Community and Restorative Justice in Washington, DC, NNE NEE was invited to design and live-monitor a visual presentation to accompany a performance by Drums No Guns Foundation and to introduce key speaker, Dr. Lyla June.

With over 2,000 attendees gathered, the moment called forward intention, coherence, and resonance with the values of restorative justice and collective care.

The visual language was designed to move with the music, call and response, and dance rather than compete with it. Working in close alignment with the performers, we developed a presentation that amplified rhythm, gesture, and communal energy while grounding the room in purpose. The visuals functioned as an emotional and conceptual threshold — opening the conference by signaling that this was a space rooted in relationship, transformation, and embodied presence.

Here is an excerpt from the live visual presentation

Live monitoring was essential. The performance demanded responsiveness, attunement, and precision as visuals shifted in dialogue with tempo, tone, and audience energy. This real-time collaboration ensured that the visuals remained vibrant, responsive, and supportive of the ceremony’s spirit.

The result was an opening that felt immersive, shared, and grounding. The visual experience helped set the tone for the conference as a living movement — one committed to transforming harm through relationship, creativity, and collective responsibility.