Arts Fest: Root of joy
“When we engage with nature, it speaks back to us,” according to Samay Arcentales Cajas. “If we ignore it, it will not.”
Arcentales Cajas was born in Toronto, but spent much of her childhood in Ecuador. She describes herself as a queer Kichwa digital media artist. Her upcoming installation at Station on the Green explores the idea that we need to be responsible caretakers of the land.
“Ownership over land is a very Western world view,” she says.
The Kichwa people, an Indigenous South American group entered in the Ecuadorian Amazon, are known for their deep connection to the rainforest and sustainable living practices including traditional agriculture and resource management.
The Creemore Festival of the Arts installation will be a fully interactive exploration of what it is like to find joy in nature, without the distraction of cell phones and the internet. In a space approximately 25-by-40 feet, the viewer will be completely immersed in a living conversation with the earth.
The show is called Sapi, from the Kichwa word for root. The work grounds us in the truth that our roots are the core of who we are, a source of connection and celebration. Arcentales Cajas says within the installation, walls, floor and ceiling breathe with the rhythms of the natural world.
Arcentales Cajas became aware of the Creemore Festival of the Arts through a contact with Tammy Yiu Coyne of Chin Chin. Coyne had seen some of her work with theatres across Ontario, and thought it would resonate with the festival’s audience.
Arcentales Cajas spent several days in the area, collecting raw footage for the project.
“I went up there and Tammy and a few other people showed me sights that were visually stunning,” she said. “I shot close-ups of different plants and leaves and lots of the little creatures like ants and bees that keep our eco system alive, but are often overlooked.”
One local site which features prominently in the final installation is Lavender Falls. Arcentales Cajas said, “With this installation, we’re making the falls accessible to lots of people even though it is located on private property.”
She works largely in the theatre world, creating immersive sets for performances. She is both the artist and the technician. She said it will take her a full day to set up the Creemore show, using four projectors mapped together and lots of ambient sound.
Scenes will be activated when the viewer speaks into a microphone. Voice prompts from the viewer will trigger animated insects and small animals to appear. A viewer might take three to five minutes to walk through the display, or sit down and experience it for a longer time.
“Some people will be shy, so we’ll have prompting questions to guide people through,” said Arcentales Cajas.
She hopes the display will cause the viewers breath to slow, their hearts to ease, and their nervous systems to find their way back into harmony with their spirits.
“The scenes are constantly changing so there is always something new to see,” said Arcentales Cajas. “This is a really good moment to settle your body down. It will be very tranquil and meditative when you need a break from all the stimulation outside.”
“The whole festival has the theme of joy,” she says “and I think my installation will make people smile.”
Sapi V2 is a marquee show at Station on the Green from 10 a.m. to4 p.m. on Oct. 3 and 4. Samay Arcentales Cajas will be giving artist talks at 3 p.m. on Oct. 3 and 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 4.
