Sit with Me, Close your eyes (Breathe)

Sit with me, close your eyes… This mission in Africa is a six week trip to facilitate the unfolding of a creative project called ‘Sit with me, close your eyes (Breathe).’ Imagine creating an art piece through the course of three festivals while teaching and demonstrating weaving techniques. Three very different festivals – a Kalahari desert culture festival, a consciousness festival and… Afrika burn. Bushman culture, contemporary spirituality and then… art in the desert, where the piece will be installed as an interactive art piece.

The installation will consist of a life-sized figure, woven from natural fibres, sitting cross-legged with hands on knees, staring out to the distance. A sign with the word “breathe”, written in wood, will be positioned directly in line with the figure’s (and the viewer’s) gaze, about eight to ten metres away.

Alongside the figure will lie a number of woven mats/cushions as an unspoken invitation for viewers to actively participate in the artwork. The name of the work itself will serve as a worded invitation (Sit with me, close your eyes). Tibetan bowl and /or bells and possibly a didjeridoo will accompany the meditating practice by providing clear and focused sonic cues.

Participants will be invited to weave additional mats for them sit on next to the sculpture, too.

I’ve had the armature made, an inner frame, a core. It’s been to the Kalahari already with me. Well, the legs have, anyway! The idea is that it goes to these places and grows as it travels, the more people it meets, the more it grows and changes. And I take photos of it as it changes and becomes whole.

Right now, I’m sitting in a place called Waterval Boven, at Michael Tellinger’s Stone Circle retreat, getting ready for the inaugural Ubuntufest. It’s going to be wild! Mind-opening, definitely. Art, music, consciousness. ubuntufest.org.za. Fibre sourcing and harvesting tomorrow is on the cards, in Michael’s old Corolla. Then… to find the local traditioanl weavers if they are here, and to organise the setting up of a weaving area for the festival.

Come with me on my journey, in pictures and words. Lets share the growth together.