Gathering at the River October 13, 2007

ArtStart, East Side Arts Council, and Teatro del Pueblo and musician/composer Douglas R. Ewart are hosting a special Fall event, Gathering at the River-Crepuscule 2007. Held Saturday, October 13, 2007 from 2-5 p.m. at Harriet Island Pavilion and Grounds, the Gathering at the River-Crepuscule 2007 is a free, interactive family-oriented event which brings diverse communities together at the Mississippi River to celebrate our care, concern, and connections to the river, our greatest resource, through the arts. Fall 2007 marks the maiden voyage of this event for the three arts partners, but a ten-year tradition for Douglas R. Ewart, who is the founder and artistic director of Crepuscule, a Latin term meaning "happening at twilight" or a happening at the twilight of the seasons.

The three-hour event begins with an opening pageant led by Douglas R. Ewart designed to honor community elders and all living things. As the event unfolds individuals are encouraged to explore their own artistry through artmaking activities that build on the river theme using recycled materials and/or become part of interactive performances with dance, drama, or music groups participating in the event. Special activities include mask making, puppetry, Magic 8 Ball art, ship building, raku pottery firing, found sound instrument construction, interactive theatre and dance, and Capoeira and martial arts demonstrations. At the conclusion of the Gathering at the River all in attendance are invited to perform in a closing ceremony in which individuals showcase their art work or performance piece and join hands in a circle of community, pledging to take action on behalf of all living beings and our fragile life-giving resource, the Mississippi River.

Official Website: http://www.artstart.org