Oshun Orisha Of Fertility: Help Us Birth Generations Of Revolutionary Womxn
Oshun Immersive Experience @ El Museo Del Barrio | 2021 | Performance Documentation of September 18, 2021
Commissioned by El Museo for Estamos Bien Triennial 2021, Rodriguez brings her photograph of Oshun Orisha of Fertility: Help us Birth Generations of Revolutionary Womxn to life with an immersive experience dedicated to the Afro-diasporic deity. Throughout the day, a multimedia presentation opened for viewing in El Museo’s El Teatro, which was activated by a procession of dancers and musicians.
Performers:
Oshun: Patricia Encarnacion
Children Of The Water: Havanna Fisher (Choreographer + Dancer)Maria J Hackett (Dancer)Isabella Jackson (Dancer)Mariama Noguera-Devers (Dancer)
Musicians: Kaila Bule (Singer)Shakoor Hakeem (Drummer)
Oshun Orisha of Fertility: Help Us Birth Generations of Revolutionary Womxn | Digital Throne | EL Museo ESTAMOS BIEN – LA TRIENAL | 20/21
Oshun Orisha of Fertility: Help Us Birth Generations of Revolutionary Womxn | 2020
Oshun Orisha of Fertility: Help us Birth Generations of Revolutionary Womxn | Video Portrait | Short version | 2020
Director | Director of Photography - Yelaine Rodriguez
Performance by Patricia Encarnación Executive Produced by Yelaine Rodriguez
Post Production | Edited by Yelaine Rodriguez | Assistant Camera - Gina Goico | Graphics by Patricia Encarnación | Costume Designer Yelaine Rodriguez
Oshun Orisha of Fertility: Help Us Birth Generations of Revolutionary Womxn is a multimedia project that incorporates fashion, handwoven panels, video, and photography. Inspired by Oshun, the orisha of fertility, I conceptualized a wearable art piece in response to the concept of birthing a revolution. The sitter for Oshun wears a bright yellow dress in her honor, with a handwoven cape that brings together indigo blue threads, mimicking the Atlantic water that brought our ancestors to the Americas, with brown threads woven in a fashion that resembles scars. We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors that paved the way and pass the baton forward. So that we may continue to carry the message onward, therefore it may never be lost. The pass of the 19th Amendment was a group effort by women of different experiences, cultures, and economically diverse backgrounds. I am inspired by the Black womxn that, during the early stages of the movement, persevered for a brighter future. They trusted that the next generation would continue the fight. My work aspires to bring awareness to the Black women in the movement through Afro spirituality, traditions, and Afro-futuristic imagery. Modeled by artist Patricia Encarnacion.
Supported by Dr. Deborah Willis, NYU Tisch & Park Ave Armory for the 19th Amendment group exhibition ‘100 Years, 100 Women’
Performance Photos by Michael Palma