Press release:
For those who have not experienced this Winter Solstice Celebration before, welcome! This event was created in 1999, first held at the old Gus Lucky's Art Space, then hosted by Patrick's Cabaret for three seasons and now it is our second year at the Cedar Cultural Center, an inspiring place to perform. The original title "Discovering Origins/Building Traditions" underlies all of the seasonal ritual shows produced by Kari Tauring and Friends. This is an all ages, all faiths, multimedia production done in a ritual framework with opportunity for quiet observation or full participation by everyone in the space through group chant and spiral dance.

This year's theme is about the trees. Why is the Evergreen a common symbol of this season? What is the "World Tree"? How are humans like trees? What do trees teach us and what do we give in return? Nordic staving (the art of chant and staff work) will summarize the show. All are invited to bring their walking sticks, shepherd's crooks, wizard's staffs, broom sticks or whatever else you have!

For those who have celebrated Winter Solstice with us before, you can expect new songs and spectacles mixed in with some of your favorites such as "Winter's Come", "Crone, Mother, Maiden" and "I sing of a Maiden". We are honored to have Anne Sawyer-Aitch (annesawyerpuppets.com) creating with us again this year with stilts, puppets and masks. Many of you experienced the Imani puppet series this summer as part of Kari and Anne's collaboration, Stories on a String. We will share Imani and the Magical Bird again, adapted for the stage with new and beautiful surprises! Tamara Rogers, our three-fold goddess will again dance and choreograph. New to the group this year is Gabrielle Robinson Bajuscik who will share her stilting and puppeting talents with us. You will hear Maren Amdal and David Moore singing like angels, Matt Spillum, Ken Sherman, Kip Overbo and JR Hartly backing up Kari's music. Maya Rose will share her profound spoken word piece, "Epiphany", and you can expect to see the rest of the crew under the leaves of the trees as well.

The paintings of Maris Gilbert will be the forest of trees as you enter the Cedar. Terri Allan will adorn the inner sanctum with her powerful quilt art. Judy Ostrowski of Mehndi Moon will decorate your hands etc. with ritual henna temporary tattoos. Felicitas Maria Sokec to provide you with the opportunity for intuitive readings for the new season. Kari will again sell her Rune Arts (sets, kits and neckwear) and impromptu jamming always follows the ritual show. The Cedar will be selling their fabulous concessions and there will be much Wassailing and merry making! See you there!