mouth//full

mouth/full was an evening-length, work-in-progress performance presented as part of CounterPulse’s 2019 Performing Diaspora Artist Residency in San Francisco. In this second installment of our trilogy, OYSTERKNIFE asked: how do we survivors of TransAtlantic horrors remember how to pray? How do Black folks continue believing - in themselves and each other? What does unshakeable faith look, feel, smell, taste like? By mining our personal relationships to faith - within and outside religious institutions - we created a new space where all can feel truly welcomed, safe, whole, and holy. During each “Mas(s),” we conducted a service/ceremony to activate, prepare and bless the space for incoming communion. Arranged to look like a traditional Black Christian or Catholic church, with pews onstage and a pulpit Gabriele and Chibueze each testified, sharing stories of how faith impacts their respective family histories and personal lives through dance, song, video, masquerade and participatory ritual with the audience, including a pre-show for Black folks only. The climax of each show involved a “praise break” that changed each night, featuring a different Black and/or queer artist sharing their personal faith testimony.

Featured praise break performers included: Mutima Imani, Monica Hastings-Smith, Tyler Holmes, SPELLLING, jose e. abad, Wizard Apprentice, brontë velez, Europa Grace, Stephanie Hewett, Rashad Pridgen, and Indira Allegra.

All photos by Robbie Sweeny.