Chicago Art Institute Ground Breaking

Commissioned by:

May 31, 2005

Redmoon Theater activated the north garden of the Art Institute by
creating a ritual of giving, adoration and hope. The Groundbreaking
Ceremony anointed the garden with flowers, scents, sound and ritual
activity, honoring the old and celebrating the new. Flower shrines made
from metal triangle sculptures of varying sizes were place throughout
the garden. Each sculpture had a colorful, geometric shape that hung
from the center and rotated with the wind. On top of the sculpture a
small bowl was placed, which held flowers, fruit, dirt and seeds.
Performers dressed in simple white costumes and whimsical cone shaped
hats with colorful fabric streamers entered the garden and planted
organic substances into the bowls and decorated the shrines with
beautiful flags and personal mementos. At the center of the grassy
lawn, a large three tiered gong stand and percussive instruments created
a soundscape, while a gentle melodic composition reminiscent of singing
birds built in the trees. Five mobile steel sculptures overflowing with
fruit, flowers and burning sandal wood entered the space, while five
enchanting stilted women roamed with trays of flowers and flower
umbrellas. Additional characters with sky painted ladders hung flowers
in the trees and sprinkled flower petals along the walkways with shakers
made from tree branches.