Introduction to the Novena Project
A Novena is a nine-day performance which is “site-specific” and can even be “time specific.” The term, “Novena,” is borrowed from the Catholic practice of honoring a saint or other sacred ideal in a nine-day festival and/or prayer. After experiencing performing for several days in a row in pieces, such as Aus Den Siben Tagen by Karlheinz Stockhausen, we have found that it takes a minimum of nine days to adapt and “feel at home” in a new environment. New and unusual environments are created for every Novena by altering the sights, sounds, and behaviors of every participant. Rules which help guide the interactions of the participants are designed while the interactions themselves transform the environments through the creation of group installations which range from small alterations in the environment to large earth works. A purpose of the Novena is to enhance the perceptions of every participant in ways that will last longer than those effects created by a two-hour performance or a passive gallery installation.
Each Novena gives its participants access to other perceptual worlds. Each Novena must be respectful of the land in which it is performed and, when possible, should honor and involve the indigenous people of the area. In addition, some kind of “outreach” should be made so that an exchange of ideas can occur with people who are not normally reached by the arts. However, when necessary, a Novena could be done for and by oneself, yet documented and shared with others after-the-fact in another location. The people involved and the activities will be determined by the participants’ needs and by the needs of others, and by determining the logistics of each situation.
Earthwork installations, particularly land-reclamation pieces, may be constructed in conjunction with the nine-day performance. In such cases those performances will necessarily interact with their respective installations.
The first seven Novenae listed here were created and performed for this particular project. We will also list other Novenae that meet the above criteria that are performed around the world, but are not tied to this specific project. However, they should be recognized here to give us a sense of the prayers and rituals people (and particularly indigenous people) are doing to help protect the planet.
Novena for Quezalcoatl – (08/16/1987 – 08/24/1987) – White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas, USA
Arkoma Basin Piece – Arkoma Basin, Oklahoma, USA
The Santa Fe Novena Project – College of Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
The Oshkosh Novena – Oshkosh, Nebraska, USA
A Meshed Net is Dredging the Abyss: A Novena by Marc Boese – (June 14, 2003 – June 22, 2003) – Catskill Mountains, New York State, USA
Novena for the Order of Euphonious Monks – College of Santa, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA and daVinci Arts Middle School, Portland, Oregon
Novena for Earth Defenders – by Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas’ Institute Justice Team, to be done anywhere in the world at any time
Novena on the Care of Creation – by The Catholic Church Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, to be done anywhere in the world at any time
Navaratri – This nine-day meditation is practiced by most Hindus throughout the world. It is done in October and April.
United Nations Climate Change Conferences – Often Indigenous people from around the world hold an unofficial conference outside of the official conference, which is often dominated by energy corporations attempting to greewash the world’s current environmental problems. This gathering of indigenous people meets the above criteria for the Novena Project.
Mid-Winter Ceremony – Iroquois