Envision Festival
(held in Uvita, Costa Rica) felt like a burner getaway in the jungle
from the start. People improvising camps out of bamboo and palm fronds,
hammock cities popping up and art growing across the ground. A vibrant
landscape exploding with color and life, which became more alive when
torrential rains pelted the grounds several nights in a row. About 3200
people attended Envision, now in it’s third year. There was a marked
increase in attendance by locals this year, a fact highlighted as a
major success by several of the producers. The growth of the festival,
in this way, and its international reach make its practice and diffusion
of Burning Man principles and the potency of the transformational
festival experience– complete with artistic expression in myriad forms,
sacred movement and reverent ritual, knowledge exchange, and sheer
exultation–all the more promising.
This transformational festival featured a
largely electronic music lineup, balanced by a healthy dose of roots,
reggae and latin flavor. To tantalize the sight? In addition to
impressive bamboo stages and captivating visual projections, mystical
and powerful performers shared fire, flow and aerial arts. Meanwhile
visionary artists filled the Tribe 13 Gallery, as well as stages and
spaces throughout the grounds, and installation masters created spaces
of prayer, pondering and connection. Spending days learning movement,
community, communication and more in richly varied workshops,
Envisionaries fueled themselves with tasty organic local food and then
charged ahead into the muddy night in communion, connection and
celebration.
Collaborations, bands, and latin flavor
dominated the main stage of Envision (Sol), with electronic music acts
illuminating the Luna stage. Headliners, Emancipator and EOTO, both
brought impressive sets. Emancipator played one of the best in recent
memory, swelling to a breathtaking ensemble featuring SaQi, Cedar
Miller, Noam Aharon, and an array of dancers. EOTO played in their
older style, with less whomp and more groove…all the better to get down
in the rain! Costa Rican acts such as Sonámbulo got many hips swaying
and feet stomping in the mud, Midnite had the afternoon irie vibes
rockin and Rising Appalachia brought their powerful roots rhythms and
potent lyrics to the Sol stage as well.
On the Luna Stage sonic alchemists such
as Phutureprimative, Desert Dwellers and Kaminanda manipulated sounds in
transformative ways, while drippy bass and alien soundscapes
dominated much of the late night sets from the likes of Andreilien, Russ
Liquid and Thriftworks. Sunrise sets from Random Rab, Desert Dwellers
and Russ Liquid each made for magical moments of connection and love.
Rippling group hugs, the spontaneous distribution of cold pipa (green
coconuts to drink from) and fruit salad, sun-gazing, eye-gazing, prayer,
release and celebration….all under a resplendent full moon giving way
to radiant sunrises.
In addition to these stages, DJs at the
Lotus Bar kept folks moving and grooving and small spaces such as the
Tea Lounge provided for intimate, improvised and acoustic sets of
everything from Kirtan to Folk to Pyschedelic Rock.
Visual and installation art featured
prominently in the already rich setting of the Costa Rican jungle.
Visual projections of Alex Grey’s work by Jonathan Singer, live
projection manipulation by artists such as Annie Stardust and
performance/projection collaborations such as Kinetic Junglist Movement
were just a few examples of the incredible art being created at
Envision. The Tribe 13 Visionary Art Gallery showcase the art of
visionaries such as Rachel Mandala and Mugwort, and many of these
painters took to the stage along with Alex and Allyson Grey. The royal
couple of visionary art held several interactive art workshops, Q&As
and an illustrated talk. Live painters surrounded the sound board as
well, and painters, face painters, airbrush tattoo artists and others
filled the grounds day and night with opportunities to adorn and enhance
the environment. Installations, such as mandalas of natural and
upcycled materials by Scott O’Keefe, the Sacred Mirrors of Alex Grey,
Danielle Herzog’s Photo Booth and Nature Dreamweaver’s nest provoked
moments of intense connection, blissful meditation and prayer, profound
awakenings, and just plain joy.
Sacred movement was a headlining feature
of the festival. At night incredible dance, fire, flow and aerial
performers accompanied most of the musical performances, and each day
was filled with workshops, many of them led by performers, such as a
Contemporary Dance workshop led by members of Quixotic Fusion.
Performance artists interacted with the crowd as well, with the Animal
Cracker Conspiracy parading through the crowd on stilts….on all
fours…decked out as wild animals. Floral sculptor Anthony Ward
mesmerized Envisionaries with his sacred practice of flower
arrangement. This unique blend of dance, ritual, and stunning natural
materials encapsulated much of the essence of the festival….movement,
beauty, reverence and celebration in full expression.
Workshops went beyond sacred movement as
well. Everything from Bodywork Basics to Intimate Relationships to
Community Design and Environmental Activism were discussed in dynamic
settings. Talks were often filled to the brim with participants, and
many filtered into longer discussions and side conversations following
the conclusion of the actual event.
In a place so vividly beautiful as Costa
Rica, it is perhaps a little bit easier to encourage efforts on
eco-initiatives. Envision featured well-distributed waste stations, with
containers for compost, sorted recycling, and trash. Leave no trace
efforts were also encouraged by the MoopSquad, a group that leads by
example picking up “MOOP” (MOOP = Matter Out Of Place) and recruits
ambassadors, painting a fingernail orange to remind Envisionaries to
pick up anything out of place and not leave waste about, and to
encourage others to take accountability as well. Efforts such as these,
as well as diligent volunteers, managed to keep this a clean festival.
In addition, the Envision Cafe and all food vendors served all organic
produce, almost all of which was locally sourced. Putting into practice
the ideals that are changing the world, and educating participants
about how to carry these ideals into their lives, Envision lived up to
its transformational intention.
In the face of an incredibly rich but
incredibly challenging landscape and astrological and meteorological
situations that were less than favorable, a talented team of passionate
co-creators managed to create an incredible experience over these days
in Costa Rica.We are grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of
it, and offer humble gratitude to all those who made it such a special
event.
http://thegrimeygatsby.com/2013/03/31/envision-festival/?doing_wp_cron=1364753575.0666069984436035156250
No comments:
Post a Comment