POST # 3
In a few hours I will finally go to see the Christos' Gates. I am trying my best to remain neutral so I can judge for myself what if anything moves me in one direction or another. But I have eliminated one perplexity that concerns a debate between those who believe the "Gates" has meaning from those that believe the Gates transcends meaning. I unhesitatingly throw my lot on the side that believe that this particular performance art is suffused with meaning.
Allow me to explain how I reached this unequivocal conclusion.
As I was listening to National Public Radio (NPR) this morning - early edition - there was a report on a new strain of flu referred to as the California and New York flu that will definitely be a major contribution to this year's annual flu season.
The reporter made it clear that time was rapidly running out {about one month left} to coordinate all that is necessary to adequately incorporate this strain into the new vaccine.
As I listened to the implied warning - reverberations of last year's flu fiasco rippled through me. I, like most of the population, was panicked about the acknowledged 2004 flu fiasco.
This fiasco was largely brought about by the failure of the FDA to adequately plan, anticipate problems, have a plan B and plan C, have adequate centralized coordination for knowing what vaccine is available and to where is it being distributed and the like.
Hoping that we have learned from these failures {but not overly optimistic} I shifted once again to thoughts about the Christos' Gates.
If nothing else, the Christos' Gates symbolizes a triumph of unified consciousness. As stated by Ms. Christos, ideas are a dime a dozen. The issue is how to move from idea to execution. To do so requires harnessing ones available energy, focus it like a laser beam in the direction one wants to go, initiate a process, and keep moving towards the attainment of the desired objective until it is achieved.
In this connection, problems are inevitable, expected, anticipated, and viewed as a challenge to overcome not as a rationalization for inactivity, and confusion. One meaning, therefore, of the Christos' Gates is the project's whole sweep moving from idea, initiating a kinetic process, persisting until the objective is realized - a veritable model {a template} of how anyone or any collective can attain significant change resulting in a sense of quintessential meaningful connectedness.
I thoroughly enjoyed your description of your experience of the Gates! Your expressed frustration at not knowing whether to take a picture or make a comment reminded me of my own decision NOT to carry a camera to most events! I have found that I can either experience all of something, or grab for records that will allow me to re-experience PART of the occasion later. I can't do both.
I believe there's a discussion in the Mars trilogy by C.S. Lewis that theorizes that part of Sin (with a capital "S") is the desire to experience things again, whenever we choose, rather than simply accepting the gifts of God and moving forward. At least, this is my reading of the passage . . . .
Thank you for your comments!
Betty Spaulding in Chattanooga
Posted by: Betty Spaulding | February 18, 2005 at 06:49 PM
I just read your post and saw that you had your photos of the Christos installation up. I've been frantically trying to get some decent airfare from L.A. during the time frame this is up, but no dice. But thanks to you, I feel like I've been there. I'm going to add your link to Sacred Ordinary's entry today so others can see your photos, too. And I'll add you to my Typepad people.
Posted by: Fran | February 17, 2005 at 01:28 AM