Edge of the World

If we had the actual opportunity to experience art, maybe we'd write about it more. Generally, we find food and outdoor adventures more fun, but, every once in a while, the human sees art that he tells us about. So, last night, he attended this performance event at the Asian Arts Initiative in Philly. (We approve, btw; we're so bored with static objects--unless we can eviscerate them--give us something that does something!)

Artist/poet/spoken word "icon" Regie Cabico opened the event, sharing experiences as a queer Filipino from southern Maryland (yikes!). His "Filipino mother" sure sounded familiar (literally), kinda like home, except for the Streisand karaoke part... And are we glad we don't know anyone named Don because we'd never be able to look at him the same way again (that's a reference to something called a "one night stand"--apparently an experience not within our purview). The human vaguely recalls a story with a dog, too--how can he not remember that?

The main event was The Edge of the World, a series of "speed plays" conceived and directed by NYC Neo-Futurist Omar Telan (another Pinoy bro). Omar and the troupe (including buddy Gary) were trotting out the performance for the first time, in preparation for the first ever National Asian American Theater Festival to be held at La Mama in NYC in June. (We'll miss it because we'll be in Montana!) We like the idea of non-illusory theater; why do humans burden themselves with so much affectation and delusion? The direct representation of life makes more sense to us, that's how we live it anyway. Besides, with our sense of smell, we can pretty much "see" through most human illusions. We could probably be good artists, if we wanted to. :)

Our human, on the other hand, is not so good at sniffing out illusion/delusion/masquerade. Sometimes, he does need art to show him the way. While the performances may not have lit a path, they were a fun reminder to look more carefully. Amid streamers, blowing bubbles, and the "perfect match" game, split ends and doodled hands revealed stories for all of us. At least for humans. We did learn a lot about them, we suppose. Curtain.