Cottonwood AZ (April 13, 2017) – On Saturday, April 22nd at 1:50pm, in the theater at Old Town Center for the Arts, performance artist and mask maker Pash Galbavy will offer a mask presentation for Earth Day as part of the Old Town Arts Fest. In “Wetiko vs the Planet,” Pash explores the personal and social archetypal psychology of environmental problems, and asks what we can do to help. ”Wetiko” (aka “Wendigo” or “Windigo”) is an Algonquin word that describes a cannibalistic spirit or disease of insatiable greed that eventually destroys itself by consuming everything that keeps it alive. Before this occurs, it fully convinces itself and others that its consumptive habits are logical and morally correct.
Pash became intrigued with the concept of Wetiko last year when she and photographer Larry Pollock were the recipients of a grant given by The Rules (therules.org) to create masks, photos and writing related to the subject of “Wetiko.” This performance is an outgrowth of that project, which can be seen at https://www.seeingwetiko.com/pash-galbavy. The Rules is a non-profit organization based in Washington, that is dedicated to changing the rules that create inequality and poverty.
Pash said that her first mask presentations with Wetiko, which included a performance at the Olandar Foundation for Emerging Renaissance in Malibu, California, were very well received. She said: “For years, I thought my Pleaser archetype was the scariest mask I’ve ever made, but Wetiko tops that. It’s a great motivator.”
In her presentation, Pash will use improvisation, storytelling, movement, dance, mask-art, myth, and personal and collective healing ritual to help raise awareness about how to identify the wetiko “virus” and to share ideas about what can be done to defend and protect against it. The presentation will be an ever-evolving culmination for Pash of 20 years of experimentation with masks and movement. She will embody various archetypes by telling stories, wearing the masks, and improvising the voice and movements of each archetypal character to show their representative aspects of Wetiko and its antidotes.
The Old Town Arts Festival Earth Day ) events are being co-hosted by Verde Valley Arts Council, Old Town Center for the Arts, and Mannheim Gallery. Activities taking place from 10am to 4pm include a Trash to Treasure Fashion Show, a Giant “Trashosaurus “ exhibit, Farm to Table cook-off, community mural, art show, craft rave, kayaking, film, artist awards, wine, music and more! Throughout the day, Pash will also be dressed up as a monarch butterfly earth spirit who will interact with attendees and give away wildflower seeds contributed by Friends of Verde River Greenway.
Get inspired to do your part to help the earth at the Old Town Arts Festival with Pash Galbavy and “Wetiko vs. The Planet,” on April 22nd, 1:50pm, at Old Town Center for the Arts, on Main and 5th St in Old Town Cottonwood.