Triple Diesel

Frank Haines and Lisa Kirk pulled it off this weekend, with Frank's Autumnal Equinox performance. Frank converted a country side barn in the Catskills into a veritable performative space, building walls and sculptural accoutrement to support his ceremonial, ritual spectacle. Candles, a skull, a memento mori from his grandfather, fog, banners, light boxes, and a corncob-topped staff were among the objects created/used. Frank also recorded original, electronic music for his chants and dances - one passage sounded like "Neon Lights" by Kraftwerk - and Frank's dances included running-in-place and a spastic version of the Robot: kind of like embracing control and release, rigid and free, tight and loose, at the same time. The performance concluded with a chant and gesticulation that appeared to be a blessing, and then several minutes of silence.

Later, a collaborative dinner, rotating DJs, rocking dance floor (literally), and continuous bonfire kept the equinox revelers up all night. Travelers from NYC, LA, Chicago, and Providence - including artists Peter Coffin, Robert Melee, Justin Lowe, Rose Kallal, Rachel Mason, Bengala, Mark Golamco, Michael Bauer, Naomi Fisher, Jim Drain, Keegan McHargue, Takeshi Murata, and others - bunked in tents, cars, and crammed beds. The rain generously, miraculously held off until Sunday afternoon. (We remember Frank invoking Isis, so maybe she had something to do with it.)