Art Nunz 🪶 Stopping traffic and concerning the general public since 2013 💀
Art Nunz: Ancestral Transmission - Art Performance and Exhibition took place October 7, 2022 at 621 Gallery in the Railroad Square Arts District of Tallahassee, FL. This prayer-formance and art show explored cycles of life and death, our relationship to ancestors, and our own mortality.
🦋 🦅 🩸 Moth messengers and Vulture undertakers circled Railroad Square with rattles, drums, and death whistles. A symbolic invitation for bystanders to follow us back to the gallery, where they could make blessings to their ancestors on the community altar and observe our mystic death ritual. All this in honor of the thousands of stories, prayers, hopes, dreams, struggles, and triumphs of our ancestors, every detail instrumental in creating us. 👁 🌀 ✨
I love these artists so much. Grateful for the magic we weave at our re-unions. I felt strong connections to my grandmothers and grandfathers. I am so blessed to have spent my life with them, getting to know them, and hearing their stories and prayers. My abuelo (grandfather) is 96 years old and still with us, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.
I cherish my family history. Looking into my Celtic lineage has helped me reconcile and understand so many things about myself and my family, and grounds me when I'm feeling lost. The magic of my people is here, alive, in me. I also prayed for the generations to come, and accepted that my prayers will be answered in unexpected ways. The twists and turns of my life will be just as winding as those of my parents, grandparents, and their grandparents. What an adventure this reality is!
A brief description of the show by Art Nunz founder Carrie Ann Baade and a gallery of images from the prayer-formance and after party.
About the Art Nunz
The Art Nunz have taken vows committing their life to art. We are advancing Art through research, education, and advocacy while embracing diversity in age, race, culture, spiritual beliefs, and gender. Art Nunz base their work on the words of Jesus from the book of Thomas: “If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.” Dedicated to the artistic mission, We see shadow work as essential to our creative process. Shadow work allows for deep healing by acknowledging and integrating the dark parts of our being.
Art Nunz may be ascetics who voluntarily choose to leave mainstream society to live their life in their studio, or to enter society in order to pray for the inspiration and creativity of others. Art Nunz are known to have bad habits and are renowned for their spiritual promiscuity. Some may be eccentric, scandalous, provocative, or rebellious. These are simply side effects of ingenuity or creative genius. Sister Karate’s most renowned teaching is: ”Painting is the answer to Painting.” In this way, the nuns have developed their orthopraxy of praying ceaselessly through making. It is through time and energy or developing one’s kung fu (discipline) that the artist may find the kingdom of heaven within.