Sitting in Green

1985, New Langton Arts, San Francisco
Performance: Butcher paper, saltpeter, green light, and flame

The artist was seated in the lotus position behind a vertical roll of paper. A green light projected from behind cast a Buddha-shaped shadow on the paper. Each side of the bottom of the shadow was lit with incense (1 of 7) where the outline had been previously traced with saltpeter. As the two slow flames climbed the saltpeter trail, an outline in light was drawn on the opposite wall (2 of 7). When the two flames met at the top (3 of 7), completing the drawing of the outline, the Buddha-shaped paper fell (4 of 7). The artist’s shadow appeared on the wall (5 of 7). Then, the artist left her seat and the outline of light was suddenly filled with green light, a projection of a green Buddha figure on the wall (6 of 7). This light projection remained as an independent installation piece (7 of 7).

other performance: Sweet Red–1; Sweet Red–2; Face to Face; Weeping Wall