Winter Solstice
Artesia Celebration
Saturday, December 22, 2001
LET THE DRAMA BEGIN!
And it did. The rains came for three weeks, unceasing! The wind was so wild, a giant 60 foot ironwood tree fell right at the entrance. Prayers were sent out for sunshine and calm. They were answered, but alas, too late... Artesia was drowned in mud!
"On with the show!" the Artesians cried.
Thank God for good friends. Ken Cowling and Loretta Viecelli came to our rescue by making an indoor location, the Infinity Arts Center of Hawaii, available for this opening event.
And so, the North Kohala Space Gypsies moved their magic stage down the hill into the wonderful giant warehouse and began decorating it in festive dressing.
A large global village totem pole was erected representing the masks of many cultures.
From across the Big Island, villagers were invited. They began to assemble and when all were settled...
The program opened with the dramatic and exciting music of "Mythos." It filled the chamber and then entered the muses "Lymphata," "Gasparetti," and "Luminato" flying into the room and capturing everyone's imagination.
The gracious Calley O'Neill gifted us with a chicken-skin Hawaiian Oli chant, inviting everyone to hold hands and to make sacred this moment in time.
She gave a stunning holiday-hula, radiant and swirling across the stage, spanking the villagers with the promise of things to come.
A reflective, hypnotic drumming and chant by Lisa Aitken firmly brought in the power of Pele.
And then...
The white-haired Jai circled the ancient village drum and told the story of the promise of high play.
He waved his ancient wand and cracked the space with the call to come home to the wonder of now, and to live in the garden again.
As he spoke, the dancing spirit Michal Carrillo limbered the edges of the group with her lithe and willowy body.
After such a dramatic opening, Forrest Arnold, troubadour and master of ceremonies extraordinaire, brought forward the art center hosts, Ken and Loretta, who spoke of their vision to bring art classes to Kohala.
The silver cowboy Kevin Ruell then took the stage with a performance art piece done with a dodecahedron. The math played out, as he paraded the NUMBERS of things we do and have in our lives. His musing and stuttering style were perfect invitations to think as he bobbed and wove his silvery geometry.
But wait... a surprise guest has just arrived, Forrest announces.
Why it's the amazing Sara McLachlan visiting from Canada!
She throws the audience down, kisses them so hard, and takes their breath away. All of this right here in Kohala!
Forrest is inspired, grabs the mic and does a romantic ballad that holds the space in a liquid state of love. He then invites the mistress of the solstice, the rogue priestess Dawn, to usher in the season. She offers up a magically inspired drum and invites all to think and choose wisely for the New Year. We tie our ribbons of intent around the branches of the Christmas tree and then...dinner is served.
Good friends gather
Joy, Alan, Alvita, Tim, Carole, Joel, Michelle
Miss chief makers, Evelyn, Loretta, Natalie
Sala, Kurt, Alexander
(Did someone put noni juice in Alexander's punch?)
Twinkling Tom and Elegant Elena
Forrest, Zosia, Jim
Michal and friends...
After dinner, the mic and floor are open for improv.
Charles is not shy! He waltzes right up to the stage.
Several other inspired villagers follow his lead and offer up their own performances. Then it's time to get down with some serious rock and roll from Kohala's own Miles Wakefield and his band.
Amazing and stupendous things just continued to happen, such as Randy Craft's ability to balance a champagne glass on his head while green bubbles pour forth from a bottle of Martinelli's sparkling cider!
Elves showed up just before midnight and planted presents everywhere!
They left a note promising the villagers more fun to come throughout the year....
Future events at Artesia
SPRING
Saturday, March 23, 2-7 p.m.
Trans Performational Games
SUMMER
Sunday, June 23, 2002, 2- 8 p.m.
Renaissance Festival
FALL
Saturday, September 21, 2002, 4-7 p.m.
Theatre Performances
ARTESIA HOT LINE
(808) 889-0089