so stoked to create a whirling, otherworldly vortex of love+light, play+processing!
first, a wisp of logistics
we’ve compiled all of our ideas into the group messaging app slack. it works as a website too so downloading the app is optional. if you want the nitty gritty of what we’re planning, click the link below and you can add yourself to the group conversations. we’ll do all the planning and coordination there, mostly in the #wigthesystem channel.
and now…
i am pleased (really, so stoked) to present a brief overview of what’s available on slack, starting with a map of the space we aim to create:
the main stage will host a series of performances centered around SIX themes throughout the night [18 mins each, 108 mins total, two 20 minute intermissions for play & ponder]
(links below take you to a detailed description and breakdown, which is only accessible if you have joined the slack group using the link above)
- transcending duality through expression over survival
- free will + surrender
- live out loud/say yes + savor silence
- synthesize reality beyond rationality
- breath: shrinking thresholds to focus on now
- life (love) is valuable
- when nothing is happening onstage, the rafters will be filled with lyra & silks performers. if the lyra/silk people are down with it, maybe guests can play on them. [faeries facilitate throughout the night]
- the back of the main stage room, near the door, will be gazing meditation chairs where two people can sit and gaze into each others’ eyes while they both absorb what’s happening around them, be it talks/shenanigans on stage, conversations, lyra, performance, play in the dressing area, etc. [faeries facilitate throughout the night]
- right behind the gazing will be the dressing room: an area with a bunch of props, wigs, costumes, makeup, glitter, etc. for guests to play! [need a mistress of the boudoir to facilitate the gender/glamour fucking zone]
- in the rafters, many multi-sized, transparent, led-lit bubbles float, overlooking the scene
at the entrance
- a welcome table [need a host for the first hour, maybe longer?]
- group paint on an easel. guests can add to it as they enter or throughout the night
- photo/video recording (maybe you’re inspired and want to record a video response to a talk that just ended or you had an epiphany or you want to capture something in a picture or you wanna read us to filth) [need a host to facilitate/monitor throughout the night]
left of stage — canvas, paint, brushes & drinks
- each pair of stools will have a canvas on an easel, a pair of brushes, a row of beautiful paint bottles & water bottle, and a palette.
- the scene is meant to encourage pairs of people (or more) to grab a drink and paint together as they talk
- plants can have odd conversations at the bar, e.g. talking in tongues or speaking proper grammar but meaningless sentences
left of stage—silent+silly
- a small stage-like area [maybe set up something on the floor with tape?] where 2–3 actors are performing silently
- people being silly in their bodies, communicating all kinds of fantabulous ridiculous stories with movement and weird expression
- actors occasionally reach out to guests and try to get them to play along and play in their bodies too, have a bit of movement dialogue, get weird, shake up the energy
left of stage—gazing
- in the back, two chairs set up for gazing so guests can take in the bar-area experience while being absorbed into another’s gaze [faeries facilitate throughout the night]
left of stage—drag full prep
- at the front, a drag queen (maybe little bird, the drag queen senator!) will be sitting in her dressing room (an absurdly beautiful, ridiculous, extravagant vanity we set up there)
- (if it’s little bird, he’ll play host with the vanity as his base) [perhaps talk show style w/cohost (who is also his makeup artist)]
- she will start as full male (maybe bearded?) and make the transformation to full fabulous drag queen throughout the night (followed by performance?)
- she can do it silently or engage with others as their curiosity draws them in
- this lovely, intimate display will be filmed
right of stage—art auction + politics + mind map
- two walls of art auction, laid out in clusters
- each cluster represents one of the SIX themes being presented on the main stage and draws each theme deeply into politics
- each cluster has a main description (about 11"x17". what will this look like?)
- each cluster has a set of related pieces of art hung around the description
- each piece in a cluster has its own description (ideally tied back to theme)
- if you’re looking straight at the wall, it would look sorta like this:
- the shape with the squiggly horizontal lines in each cluster is the main description, the auction pieces surround it
- the small rectangles next to each piece are the individual piece descriptions
right of stage—flow circle
- a circle (or large semicircle) taped out on the floor
- a place to try on flow arts [2–3 flittering flow faeries]
- poi, sticks, dancing, (acro-)yoga, juggling, hula, staff?
- sometimes performers can take over the space & do a little show to get guests’ juices flowin, hearts racin, bodies movin!
right of stage—read+write(+listen?)
- a place to find good books and share your treasures
- a place to write down your thoughts on the evening or on something you read in a book or an epiphany you had or a question you’re grappling with
- a place to see what other people are writing/thinking
- a place for quiet contemplation/meditation, a breather
- candles
right of stage—gazing
- two gazing chairs to absorb the art auction/flow/read+write zones are at the front near the stage [faeries facilitate throughout the night]
right of stage—food
- food tables set up along the wall between art auction and read+write
okay! that’s where we’re at. nothing is rigid, (almost) everything is/can be in flux. in fact, our goal is to be incredibly flexible. we wanna be playful and receptive enough to even make changes in realtime as the evening evolves.
you can check out the conversation on slack to get an even better idea of what vibes & intentions will be the foundation for this plan.
what do you think? what would you do? what would you add/remove? let’s make something compelling together!
if you’re interested in taking part, i have two kind requests:
- please share your thoughts/ideas on slack.
- please let us know on slack when you’re available over the next few days. we’d love to take to the streets to play with our ideas in public, film some fun, and get to know each other more. we’re aiming for mid-next week.
we want this to be an explorers heaven, a spacetime where you can feel vulnerable enough to confront yourself & then breathe into your own power, an experience that shocks & hurts, mystifies & empowers. if we can do that, i will be the happiest creature on the planet! 😍
let’s make it happen, friends!
