LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Matters |
by Murray Archibald |
The Big Bang Supernova Popheart Rainbow
This Labor Day Weekend we will celebrate Sundance for the 19th time in as many years. Though I didn't start producing an "official" Sundance painting and print until 1996, I have always been responsible for the themesso you can blame me for the tongue-twisting phrasing of the last few years. Almost always the themes have been tied into my current artistic endeavors. This year is the first time that the theme of Sundance and the Sundance painting title have been one and the sameThe Big Bang Supernova Popheart Rainbow. As an aside I must say that a few of my favorites include: The Super-Duper Ultra Iridescent Rainbow Revolution; Rainbow Revival (jump, shout, hallelujah, jubilation in the house); The Divine Order of the Wings of the Cosmic Rainbow; and, of course, last year's The Unspeakable Joy of the Razzle Dazzle Rainbow Show. This year's convergence of theme and title is noteworthy to me because I believe that its messagewhich is ultimately about creative solutions for restoring balance and increasing love in the worldis especially needed right now. Will our community coming together to dance at Sundance make a difference to a world torn by war, disease, environmental and natural disasters? Who can say? Maybe the love and joy we create among ourselves can be spread further than anyone imaginesor perhaps I should say, as far as we all can imagine when we put our minds and hearts together. Sundance for me has always been a wonderful paradox, both a wild celebration and night of frivolous fun, and a rite of passage that is almost a ceremonial experience. Coming as it does on Labor Day weekend; it is a doorway connecting the last week of the high summer season with the approaching time of harvest. I love that ceremonial quality because we live in a world where ceremony has lost its magic. I certainly can't speak about the needs of others, but I, for one, long for a little more mystery and magic in the world, and relish every opportunity to experience more. The real magic of Sundance, of course, is its people. Rehoboth Beach is an amazing community that connects people up and down the East Coast and beyond. The people who gather for Sundance represent a wonderful cross section of our town and its surrounding communities. Just look at the enormous list of Sponsors, Supporters, and Hosts listed on pages 6-7. Add to that the many volunteers it will take to produce the event and all the people who will come to the eventgay, straight, young and oldand the connections will run for miles. I've always felt that the Sundance spirit traveled with us long after the event had come and gone. Back during the fifth (and seventh) Sundance I wrote a little piece I called Rainbow Dancers. I asked Steve if we had ever published it before, but neither of us can rememberwhich certainly doesn't mean that we did or did not. I guess if we can't remember no one else will eitherand it really doesn't matter anywayso I'm including it on the next page. Like this year's painting, it too is about the restoration of balance in the world around us and the intrinsic order that is a part of the structure of a rainbow. Sometimes I feel like everything I do, everything I paint, everything I write, all the events, CAMP Rehoboth, Sundance, all of it, is one single piece of artwhich, of course, for me, it isthe art of my life. As we've pointed out with our HeArt of the Community projects, "art" is a part of "heart," and when we share our hearts (and our art) with one another, I believe we can make a "big bang" in the world around us. I certainly can't explain it and don't even want to try, but Sundance is always a little magical to meand I hope it always will be. Murray Archibald is Founder and President of the Board of Directors of CAMP Rehoboth, and an artist in Rehoboth Beach. Thank You To the following CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Volunteers for the period of July 15-July 28. Dick Bailey Tony Burns Allen Casavant Frankie Chan Harvey Chasser Allen Cuff Rob Dellanoce Paul Fessler Gary Fisher Chuck Flanagan Mark Gruber Steve Janosik Sheldon Lebowitz Charlie Lee Michael Muller Bob Nagy Chuck Oakes Steve Proctor Jean Rabian Barb Ralph Chris Sampson Steven Schafer Rich Snell Thad Rauhauser George Whitehouse Scott Wiemers The Rainbow Thumb Club Steve HoultCoordinator Tony Ghigi Scott McHugh Shawn Noel Bud Palmer Roy Perdue Ken Reilly |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 16, No. 11 August 11, 2006 |