Abrazos de Luz

Abrazos de Luz is a performance evening showcasing four artists: Koyoltzintli, Alx Velozo, Mónica Palma, and Nima Jeizan, curated by Guadalupe Maravilla. Abrazos de Luz is rooted in the belief that all entities—whether birds, plants, rocks, the ocean, food, animals, buildings, cars, or even a hospital chair—possess intrinsic energy. Guadalupe chose these four artists because of their roles in their communities and who they represent in our society. Animism has been central to many ancient cultures’ spiritual perspectives, and it also plays a pivotal role in this performance event and the artists performing. Maravilla highlights the four artists’ individual artistic practices and their existence as individuals who channel love and empathy into everyone around them. Their energy, and energy like theirs, is especially important right now considering how our world constantly challenges us with unwanted wars, political turmoil, forced migrations, overall mental health issues, and the influx of news and information.

As part of the evening’s rituals, Guadalupe has invited these four artists to perform and bring an offering—a home recipe of a beverage to share with the audience during intermission—to welcome everyone into our space.

+ Koyoltzintli: Taraypacha" (Time to Meet Ourselves Again)

For this participatory performance, Koyoltzintli will enact an invocation to the four terrestrial energies—fire, earth, water, and air—and the cosmic energy that activates them, known as undifferentiated form, chaos, path, the weaver, and/or love. Four participants will be invited to take part in this invocation by coming to the stage and playing along with her..