shine a light upon the people of the sun
This Performance/installation piece is a response to accounts of events that have transpired during the protracted civil war in Guatemala,the story of Gente del Sol. In more general terms it portrays the desperation wrought by institutional human rights abuses, persecution and violence as well as the hope for peace and justice forged by all people of good will. The piece cooperates in the effort to shine a light of truth on all 'gente del sol', people of the sun... and to "incite hope"
brilla la luz alla gente del sol resolves with images inspired by the native Mayan culture, that is at once the object of persecution and a hope for redemption.
The piece was conceived by David Berlin and Jim Reinhard as part of the annual Circus of the Arts Festival, sponsored by the Fine Arts Coalition, which this year presented several activities and exhibits supporting human rights. Students of computer multimedia, music, and dance at North Allegheny High School contributed ideas, video images, animation, music and performances to the piece.
Each of three screens of digital video are controlled live by performers on three computers. Digital sound is controlled live by three additional performers on computers. The performer can improvise the order and duration of the images and sound within each of five movements. A continuous sound track plays throughout the performance along with live performance on a variety of nonwestern instruments.
Live dancers perform choreographed movements.
View a
movie of the live performance.
View Quicktime digital video clips used in the performance.
Related works
A Mural evoking the constant barrage of media images of the television newsroom was created by a wide range of artists, students, and visitors to the festival, under the direction of David Hawbaker. The images were also inspired by the theme of human rights and the work of Amnesty International.
Poetry in the voices of all those touched by the tragedy of the Guatemalan civil war, the Acul incident in particular, was written by the creative writing students of Eric Graff of North Allegheny High School.