BLESS ME, ULTIMX
// 31 LOVE LETTERS TO MY MOTHER
BLESS ME ULTIMX // 31 LOVE LETTERS TO MY MOTHER is a funeral for my living parents; a rehearsal for death; a ritual for grieving; a celebration of life. This solo performance series expresses my practice of equitable labor within my inherited body; to negotiate the liberating demechanization of ideology and relationships; to sing and dance and pray through the compassionate healing in my heart. For each of the 31 performances in the series, I’ve begun writing 31 Love Letters to my Mother - a commitment to ask myself more often:
What if I give everything I possibly can to bring liberation to my relationship with my creators; my heroes; my parents?
What if there is wisdom and unity in this space where Tejanx Catholicism and my Queerness feel at war?
What if I connected to the presence & wisdom of my ancestors in every breathe; every movement; every color?”
fuerza de campo // forcefields
cuando llega la tormenta, la lluvia revela lo que hemos enterrado o hace crecer lo que hemos plantado // when the storm comes, the rain reveals what we’ve buried or grows what we’ve planted
how can i create a forcefield for my own protection?
what do i need to feel as safe as possible?
los dulces misterios // the gentle mysteries
sana, sana, colita de rana. Si no sanas hoy, sanarás mañana. // heal, heal, little tail of the frog. If you don't heal today, you'll heal tomorrow.
how can i find strength in gentleness and beauty?
how can I protect my most precious and sacred energy?
Fire Flowers & A Time Machine (Matthew Garza).mp4Written, Directed & Performed by: Matt Garza
Photography: Steven Choummalaithong, Efrel Solares & Erin Smithers
Video: Oliver "Sydesho" Arias
Costumes & Hair: John Cantu (Vivi LeGrand) + La Tiendita Boutique (Corpus Christi, TX)
Music: Ave Maria (Shubert), Psalm 51: Be Merciful, O Lord (Marty Haugen, David Haas), El Pescador De Hombres (Cesáreo Gabaráin)