Category: Arts & Entertainment

Cherie Sampson – International Artist at SHF

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Cherie Sampson is a visual artist working in environmental sculpture, performance and video, exhibiting her work in the US and abroad.  She currently resides

Cherie Sampson

in Columbia, Missouri and is an Assistant Professor of Art at the University of Missouri where she coordinates the Foundations program and teaches Foundations and Video Art. She contributed as a national guest at Sacred Harvest Festival and offered a series of workshops on “Embodying Sacred Space”, and a Thursday night performance piece multimedia premier, entitled “One of Many Limbs”. This interview is in its entirety, but somewhat edited for flow. You can listen to the whole interview here.

What was your experience like this year, coming to Sacred Harvest Festival and presenting to a bunch of Pagans camping out?

It has been really good, really great, and I haven’t been to this festival. This is the first time.  I am familiar with many people who have been really close for a long time, Alvin and Lila, and I’ve known you for probably twenty years. I still remember many of the songs from the ritual you did years ago, so I feel certainly a part of this community, although there are many people I don’t know.

Set Created for Cherie's performance

Set Created for Cherie's performance photo: jtouchette

Well, when Judy emailed me in February, I just felt really honored to be asked to come as guest artist.  I have been kind of reflecting on how in some ways in my work, career, especially in an academic environment at a research university, there are certain expectations to be showing your work, and doing your research. It becomes very externalized, the work becomes part of this career chase. I knew this would give an opportunity to connect with a community that understands the deeper spiritual dimensions of my work. Also for me to reconnect with those dimensions as well, which are always present. When I am seeking the gallery venues and that art world sort of channel,  it (spiritual dimensions) becomes quieter. Continue reading →

Murphy’s Midnight Rounders – Interview and New CD

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Attendees at Sacred Harvest Festival had multiple opportunities to listen to local favorite Murphy’s Midnight Rounders. Shortly before they performed at Ken Ra’s Grandfathering ritual on Saturday, band members Brad Murphy, Teresa Frank, and Bonnie Hanna-Powers sat down with the PNC. A few of the highlights of this almost 30 minute interview are:

You can listen to the interview here using Windows Media Player.   If your browser does not support that link or you do not have Windows Media Player – you can go here.

You can catch Murphy’s Midnight Rounders this Friday at 10:30pm at the Eagles Club in St Paul as they celebrate the release of their new CD,  “Running On Empty.”

Magic and Art Combine in SHF Merchants’ Wares

Part of the Sacred Harvest Festival experience is spending a leisurely afternoon shopping along Merchant Row. You can find ritual robes, comfortable sarongs, jewelry, drums, and hand thrown pottery. I purchased a beautiful libation cup from Hawkdancing Studio. Some offer services such as energy work or body painting and henna. The merchants are willing to let you shop in silence or strike up a conversation. Some are willing to fill you in on their particular craft while you watch them work.

Skywolf SingingHeart prepares to embed a stone into a broom staff

That is the case with Earnest Stevens, known by his craft name Skywolf SingingHeart. He makes brooms and he makes them only while he is at festivals or on other high energy occasions such as a full moon.

If you see Skywolf at a festival and you want one of his brooms, I suggest you talk to him the very first day or you may not be able to get one. The reason his brooms are so sought after is apparent once you watch him work and listen to how they are made. Continue reading →

SHF Series – Childrens’ Play “Sleeping Beauty” with Pagan Twists

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The Kids’ Cauldron performed an old classic with modern Pagan updates to an appreciative audience Tuesday night.

The story is one we are all familiar with. A King and Queen hold a party to celebrate the birth of a long desired child and all the fairies of the realm are invited to bestow gifts on the young girl except one. That fairy, angry at not being invited, curses the child to die at age 16. The curse cannot be changed, but a fairy is able to alter it to something less dire – Sleeping Beauty will prick her finger on a spinning wheel at age 16 and fall into a deep sleep that can only be broken by her true love.

That may have been what attendees at Sacred Harvest Festival were expecting, but what they got was something more up to date and in line with Pagan sensibilities.

Continue reading →