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Caitlin Mary Margarett, Joel Wisner
PERSEPHONE (FROM THE DIVINING SERIES)

first performed on December 7, 2018
UNI Gallery of Art, Cedar Falls, IA
performed twice in 2018

CAITLIN MARY MARGARETT

Cedar Rapids, IA
caitlinmarymargarett@gmail.com
caitlinmarymargarett.com

PERSEPHONE (FROM THE DIVINING SERIES)
CAITLIN MARY MARGARETT

I enter a circular, sacred space comprised of 400 hand-dyed and screen-printed envelopes, and 79 ceramic tiles. The space is heavily fragranced with frankincense and pomegranate. The red envelopes are addressed to “her,” “him,” and “them.” The tile floor is a mixture of iconography that pays tribute to the myth of Persephone, the most reproduced and beautified story of rape in western art history. A red pomegranate is prominently situated in the middle of the floor design, with a bundle of wheat below it for her mother, Demeter. Around the edge of the tile floor the carved text reads “I believe her, I believe in Her, I believe her,” paying homage to the #MeToo movement. Over a hundred pounds of rock salt secure the tile floor into place, three triangular pedestals occupying the voids in the tile pattern. The tallest pedestal holds raw, white envelopes, one holds a bowl of pomegranate juice and dye, and the shortest holds a bowl of salt. I stand in the middle of the tile floor, one hundred fifty red envelopes dancing above me, suspended from the ceiling. I center myself, humming. I begin singing the words “freedom come” in a low, slow voice. I turn to the pedestal with the white envelopes. I pick one up, singing still, and I walk to the edge of the tile panel beside the pedestal. I hold it out, the text facing me, and sing to it for several minutes. I then move back to center and melodically wail into the envelope until satisfied. I let silence fill the room, I let the energy swell in the quiet. Beginning to sing again, I turn to the bowl of juice and dye. I immerse this now emotionally heavy object in the juice, taking my time to achieve a vibrant color. I walk to the edge of the tile panel beside this bowl, and hold it out for the audience to see the pronoun on the front of the envelope. I continue singing, letting the paper drip dry. I turn to the bowl of salt and fill the envelope, sealing it once it is a third full. I again stand at the edge of the adjacent tile panel, the text facing out. I sing for a few minutes more, “freedom come, freedom come.” Finally, I add the envelope to the installation, and repeat this ceremony for two hours.