Earth is a she
Video portrait installation
Bazeos Tower 2018
This is Maria. The land has been her life since she was a young woman. Her choice to become a shepherdess goes counter to deep-seated traditional roles in Greece, where land and animals are thought to be the province of men.
She reminds us, earth is a she.
Earth is she (Maria, living portrait, 6:00)
Earth is a she (Maria, living portrait, 0:10) ©patriciagarciagomez
Earth is a she (Maria, living portrait,, 0:50) ©patriciagarciagomez
The audio for Earth is she is an original composition, created in collaboration with musician/composer/vocalist Prassanna Vishwanathan. The piece features field recordings made in Naxos while accompanying shepherdess Maria Makari in her daily work, and vocals rendered by Prassananna. We collaborated across New York, India, and Greece until we landed on this version, which feels born of the land and is in honor of Maria.
The vocals represent a deep-spirited Indian Raga Jhijhoti. This expression is called Alaap, the oldest living tradition of Indian Classical music. This Sanskrit mantra says: “O goddess that resides in all the elements as the ‘Mother,’ I bow down to thee.”
Around and About 2018 press release
Around and About 2018 participants
Naxos and the small cyclades
Artist profile (in the works, stay tuned!)
Patricia's travel tips for Greece (coming soon!)
The Bazeos Tower is a creative space and cultural center located in the mountains of Naxos, Greece. The tower dates back to the 17th century and belongs to the most typical group of monuments in Naxos, dating from 13th to the 18th century. Each year, a select number of international artists are invited to participate in an art residency and fill the space with site-specific works. Each artist establishes an individual dialogue with the environment, using materials and inspirations from the surroundings.
Curator: Mario Vazeos Vice curator: Klaus Pfeiffer
Technical curator: Katerina Zourari Photo: courtesy of bazeostower.gr
Enormous thanks and gratitude to Maria Makari, who I am in awe of; Prassanna Vishwanathan for his masterful vocals, and; the Bazeos Tower team, for their vision and artistic support: Curator, Mario Vazeos; Vice curator: Klaus Pfeiffer; Technical curator: Katerina Zourari. Additional acknowledgments: Audio post-production: Phil Moffa @buthchasound; Video editing: Katerina Zourari; Photos: Installation view (top center): Georgia Papad;
Tower at night: ©DieterDU.
Earth is she (living portrait, 1:50)
Earth is a she (Maria, living portrait, 0:40) ©patriciagarciagomez