Water Ritual: Tending the Edge at Jamaica Bay

Sunday, May 23, 2021 at 2:15pm

Sacred Waters: Jamaica Bay is a project curated by Elizabeth Velazquez that involves water ritual, healing the shoreline by cleaning it, and a panel discussion. Artist Elizabeth Velazquez reconnects with ancestral knowledge, and extracting, excavating, and reclaiming that history from her body through the act of ritual. Water Ritual: Tending the Edge at Jamaica Bay is a collaborative piece where a water ritual is merged with a cleaning ritual. Through performance, Velazquez and Angela Miskis come together to activate the water’s edge and reflect on the need for a cleaner and safer waterfront that is both revered and respected. Angela’s performance expands on her current work, Abuela Neighborhood Maintenance (ANM), which combines her family history, commitment to social service, and sustainability in stewardship projects across Queens. The project Sacred Waters: Jamaica Bay gains inspiration from the NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan (CWP) and is made in collaboration with Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus and United Madrassi Association Inc., existing cultural organizations dedicated to protecting Jamaica Bay. One goal stated in the CWP, is to promote the “stewardship of public spaces on the waterfront.” Stewardship is one concept that guides the work Sacred Waters: Jamaica Bay, as well as connecting and interacting with the natural environment.

This was a project of Tending the Edge NYC 2021.

Videography & Editing: Richard Louissaint