Spirit of the New World
Photos from the premiere performance at the UCLA Fowler Museum, June 2008
Photographer: Lillian Wu
The Docent (Rosemary Candelario) greets the audience and introduces the accompanying film before leading them through the exhibit/performance.
The first performer (Krenly Guzman) enacts a cleansing dance inspired by traditional Santeria ritual and the memory of the honorary transvestite Cuban priestess, Clarita.
The second performer (Michael Sakamoto) in a classic Nare meditation pose.
Michael Sakamoto with film camera in reference to the cinematic roots of Nare.
After shedding his outer vestments, Sakamoto readies for the second phase of Nare meditation.
Sakamoto begins the second phase of Nare meditation, invoking Harpo Boddhisattva.
The third performer, Waewdao Sirisook, prepares her Satuwang (spirit telepost based on the cardinal points).
Sirisook invokes the spirits via ritual chanting, prayer, and toy deity arrangement.
Sakamoto enacts Nare mediation ritual acts by taking super-8 film footage of Sirisook as she begins her trance dance.
Sirisook falling into trance.
Sirisook after trance dance, now in state of possession by the spirit, Khun Laung Jaturach, Lawon'g primary deity.
Jaturach instructs the audience.
Jaturach with duck sacrifice.
The four performers gather for audience communion.
Invoking the spirit of Clairon Turner, the Fourth Performer, D. Sabela Grimes, prepares a Tawa ritual mound from the Olmec Moorish Science Movement.
After the mounds have been built at the four cardinal points, Grimes performs the traditional Tawa "mound blowing."
Clarita's ultimate dance.
Guzman and Sakamoto invoke the spirits of their patron saints, Clarita and Harpo Marx.
The traditional Chi-ken dance.
Harpo evocation within the Chi-ken dance.
Clarita's ritual burial by the audience within the sacred observational space.
