Savage Rituals

Erin Stack and architect Stephenie Strogney collaborate annually on roaming eco- interventions.

“Savage Rituals”, Earth Day, 2007, Newburyport, MA
This performance addresses Americans anxious, projected as romanticized, relationship to Nature. Our “friendly” polar bear greeted people on the street and in commercial establishments. The bear offered the gift of cards describing assorted “savage rituals”. If performed, these rituals would allow a more intimate relationship with Nature.

Selected Savage Rituals:

2. For the duration of one month from this day, place a cup outdoors every time there is precipitation. Allow the cup to fill for as long as the rain or snow lasts. When the weather changes, drink the contents of the glass.

5. In your mind, determine a length of time: a specific number of hours, days, weeks, years. Next, pick up a rock. Any size that you can carry is fine. Keep this rock with you at all times: in bed, in the shower, at work…always have the rock in arms length of you. At the end of the specified time, return the rock to the exact location where you found it.

7. Assign a name and one character trait to every item you throw away or recycle today based on either a property or the item or a feeling you were experiencing when you discarded it. Write all these names and characteristics down. At the end of the day, write a fictional story that uses all of these characters.

8. Locate the sources of food: Find the nearest produce, dairy, and meat farm to the place where you slept last night. Walk to each of these some time this month.

11. Do not flush a toilet today: If the toilet that you typically use seems to be in danger of exceeding its capacity, find another toilet.

14. Waste feed: Take the remains of your dinner today. Place it out side for food for the animals. Visit the remains morning noon and night until all traces are gone.

15. Wind Turn: Close your eyes and stand. Note the sensation of the wind on your skin. Turn to face that direction open your eyes walk in that direction until you can no longer feel the breeze on your face.

17. Conversation piece: Place cheese on decorative tray and place in center of dinner table. Leave tray for 8 weeks.

18. Think of an animal that frightens you: Dress up as this animal and stand in from of a mirror. Have a conversation with this animal on your hopes and fears.

20. Go to a forest: Learn to identify 12 plant and tree species by touch.

21. Remove all electronic media from you home: Open window and listen to the ambient sounds of Nature for nightly news.

22. Follow piece: Follow the next ant you see to its nest. Sit down and wait until your particular ant exits nest.

23. Animal Empathy: Prepare chicken for your next meal. Take a bite and imagine the life of the chicken. Continue chewing until you have imagined the places where it was born, lived, and died. Swallow.

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