IMPRESSIONS: Karley Wasaff’s "Growing Takes Time" at Noo Arts Wildflower's Green Roof

Creator and Director: Karley Wasaff

Co-presenter Noo Arts

Digital Art Curators: Josh Sauceda and ARCHIV3,

Live Painter NotYourMuse 

Performers Nirah Burwell,Cam Arnold, Joy Raylon Hill, Macee Eppard, Dahlia Levine, Peter Alfred Elizalde, Anna Paterson, Ashton Atteberry, Juwai Ptikin, Sadie Levy

June 20, 2026

Imagine walking up to a rooftop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and suddenly becoming immersed in a video game world replete with challenges to complete and characters to engage with.

 Karley Wasaff, a non-binary movement artist and the creator and director of Growing Takes Time, created such an otherworldly landscape on Noo Arts Kingsland Wildflower’s rooftop. From here, audiences were brought on a journey through conflict, growth, and community building. 

 Growing Takes Time Creator and Director, Karley Wasaff; Photo:Josh Sauceda

Inspired by Pikmin 4, a strategy-puzzle video game for Nintendo Switch, Wasaff designed a world for the performers to become “PIKMII,” little pink creatures who start as buds and can bloom into full flowers. We, the audience members, were guided through various tasks and obstacles with these PIKMII to help them bloom.

At the opening of the show, we are led to Noo Arts’ uppermost rooftop and introduced to Command Center, a character, played by Nirah Burwell, who excitedly introduces us to our video game world. She sets the tone for the adventure, inviting us to the center of the rooftop garden and dividing us into two groups. Those who choose to be active participants are called Astronauts, and those who wish to observe from the sidelines are called Wallflowers. 

 Growing Takes Time's PIKMII Being Plucked by Audience Astronauts;  Photo:Josh Sauceda

The Astronauts are asked to “pluck” their PIKMII, who can be found lying around the roof, costumed in pink body suits detailed with flowers. The creatures hold single-stemmed flowers in the air that, when plucked, transform into bright, tall headpieces. If the game’s challenges are met, their headpieces grow larger and fuller.

 Growing Takes Time Cast;Photo:Josh Sauceda

When the PIKMII conflict with one another, they break into Jiu Jitsu-inspired contemporary partnering duets that cannot end until they learn to move through and resolve their issues. Command Center instructs the audience of Astronauts and Wallflowers on ways to make their PIKMII dance toward success. We must match their “groove” by imitating their gestures and walking patterns, and we must play childhood games with them, like “Follow the Leader” and “The Floor is Lava.” All these activities teach our wards team building. If we can encourage them to cooperate and accomplish their tasks for the day, we all win. (By the end of the performance, even the Wallflowers were eagerly involved in helping the PIMKII achieve their goals and win their flowers!) 

 Growing Takes Time Follow the Leader;  Photo:Josh Sauceda

This was one of the zaniest shows I’ve ever experienced. While we tackled serious ideas -- commitment, cooperation, and world-building--  the endeavor was filled with humor and fun. At times, it was unclear why the PIKMII were fighting, or how we needed to help them; still, I deeply enjoyed watching the performers. They fully embodied their characters and were intensely committed to their roles. The play was both familiar enough for our comfort and novel enough to keep us intrigued and enthusiastic to work with total strangers to accomplish PIKMII goals.

 Growing Takes Time ;Photo:Josh Sauceda

Growing Takes Time is wonderfully multidimensional.  The artists involved are highly-trained dancers and theater practitioners. Throughout the space, accompanying the live performances, are digital art exhibits curated by Josh Sauceda and ARCHIV3, as well as a live painting created on the spot by NotYourMuse in collaboration with the performers and audience members. These elements all together create an intoxicating, vibrant world. 

In a conversation with Wasaff before the performance, they shared that they “like that the show is weird, messy, fun, physical, and sincere all at once I’m asking people to play together at a time when genuine collective interaction can feel surprisingly rare.”

I had a phenomenal experience with Growing Takes Time and would like to see more of their connection and resilience-fueling work in all communities. 

 Growing Takes Time; Photo:Josh Sauceda