A Tale of Two Fridays

The two most recent Friday Nights @ Not A Cornfield programs illustrate the range of activities that occur on the project grounds.

On Friday, October 7, an estimated crowd of 1,000 people gathered after sundown to enjoy the transformative art project, part of which includes the weekly, free-of-charge Friday Nights @ Not A Cornfield series of Open Mic / Open Film music and movies, and, on alternative weeks, Salons.

The following Friday, October 14, Permaculture expert Larry Santoyo brought his ideas and experiences to an engaged Salon crowd closer in size to 100 people. Santoyo, whose program was titled, "Beyond Sustainability" spent nearly two hours in an open dialogue with newcomers and old hands alike who were interested in learning more about the seemingly catch-all concept of 'permaculture.' The word is a contraction of "permanent" and "culture," and the idea behind it is to develop and put into place sustainable social, governmental, nutritional, and shelter systems, to name a few.

If that evening was more about the power of ideas and the ability to bring about lasting change, then the October 7 fare was more of a respectful, cross-cultural party. Titled, "Maíz con Salsa - A Cuban Harvest Celebration at Not A Cornfield. " While Cuban food was served on the canopied patio of the project's administrative trailers, a colorfully-costumed woman and a half-dozen or so men clad in white each drummed, stepped, danced, chanted, and sang their way from the dirt in front of the cornfield up onto an elevated stage. This was, "Tambor for Orisha-Oko: A traditional Afro-Cuban harvest ritual for Not A Cornfield."

Following the extraordinary ritual, the salsa band Son De La Tierra took the stage and played rich and artful numbers to the delight of of the singles, couples and groups on the crowded dance floor.

Meanwhile, the stunning black and white film, "Hybrid," screened in the middle of the cornfield, and a visiting deejay spun live at the Not A Cornfield "eye," while a campfire crackled.

Friday Nights @ Not A Cornfield continue, always free-of-charge. Please visit here for up-to-date schedules and information.