It’s eclipse season and I’m trying to move past my fear of sharing my work with the world!! For the last 5 years i have worked on my project “a face for a thousand heroes,” transforming peoples lived experiences in the bodies and cities they inhabit into original anti-colonial mythologies. I believe this is my life’s work!! Ive been leading story sessions with dozens of people about their disabilities, tragedies, triumphs, about New Orleans and its infrastructure, sinkholes and stories. Afterwards, i propose to them a mythological creature-based story, separated from the colonial narratives that entrap these spaces into imposed origins/outcomes. Once we write this new tale, I construct the physical world of the myth, and photograph/film the storytellers as the heroes of the story. The outcome of each myth process is a written story, documentation of the constructed world, and interpretations from other artists embodying the myth in their own mediums. Idk what this project will be! I believe it has wings to be a doc, a book, an exhibition, a growing breathing online archive of the new worlds/creatures I’m so lucky to keep meeting. This video is a BTS look at one myth session with the undeniable @tavmemhey and her experience of reclaiming herself ❤️. The search to keep funding this project is a full time job, but i believe in it and will keep going and slowly share its bits and pieces. 📽️ captured by @hen.nen ✨
Introducing FUGUE!!! multi media puppet collective participating in the Giant Puppet Fest for the first time with a story that transcends time: Sun Kink.
A man travels on a celestial train ride to kill Time. Not waiting. Murder. He encounters a trickster companion who guides him through the layers of Time’s many shapes, destroying our conception of the future, questioning the past, and offering a window into the present. Told through dance, sound collage, puppets, and a giant cranky, catch us just ONE TIME at @neworleansgiantpuppetfest this Sunday April 12th, 5pm at the Marigny Opera House.
Some more lil details from my show!
1. The Exiled - tapestry - inspired by anonymous experiences with reproductive health
2 + 3. The Reflector - mask and tapestry - myth inspired by @santixcastro ’s indigenous perspective on their journey with Schizophrenia
4. The Foremother message panel
5. The Architect - tapestry and book inspired by @existential_autoerotic
6 + 7. Little details of my big crazy myth mind map <3
Finally getting around to sharing some photos from my December exhibition, A Face for a Thousand Heroes.
Sharing these works in progress from over 4 years of carrying this project was such a wild experience- want to share my gratitude for everyone who showed up for me and these stories, to my friends and STRANGERS who stayed for hours to hear and read every word… to ALL of the helping hands named in the last image in this post, to the panelists and performers, to all the people who have contributed their stories at various stages, to @nikki_at_mehle for having me. To my time at @joanmitchellcenter_nola for the focused space to prep and play w new mediums.
But a SPECIAL THANK YOU to
@hen.nen and @savartdesign for riding so hard w me to bring these worlds to life ❤️ to @cripple.spice for coming here before the show to help me sew everything I love you sm @langstonallston@mcgoochums@milkteeth_and_honey@mara.machete for getting this up on the walls. And @thousandwaysmaze for being the first ❤️ Will be to sharing more soon!!!
Another big bite from The Architect, the latest episode in my project A Face for a Thousand Heroes❤️🔥 the myth of the mutants and their brilliance was inspired by storyteller @campaign_mama !!
THANK YOU to shadow puppeteers Julianne Merino and Melody Chang for so skillfully giving this world a whole new dimension… @juliannemerino@shangri_blah y’all blow my mind.
This story and 4 others are up right now at @nikki_at_mehle 💕 more open hours tonight 6-10pm, or tomorrow between 3pm and 7pm, with a panel at 5❤️
footage from this excerpt shot by Alex Hennen Payne @hen.nen
Set design brought to life by the amazing Savanna Stephens @savartdesign
Writing, directing, production, SPFX, costume by Maya Pen
Featuring the incredible Ro Keel
Ty @_______eternalromantic for extra puppet support :)
Sunday! I’m very lucky to be joined by 4 brilliant researchers, artists, storytellers, and dreamers to talk about the myths used to hurt us, and the myths that can free us. At Nikki Gallery ❤️
Open gallery hours to view my show 3-7pm. Panel at 5pm. Pls RSVP via QR code or link in my bio … so i can feed yall soup!
Saturday 12/6! Through all the grief circulating us and our beloveds the last 5 years, this project has kept me on the ground. I have been carrying these myths with me like armor, and I am excited to share some of them w yall ✨
More glimpses from “The Architect,” featuring the magical @campaign_mama , whose story inspired this cavernous world. I am showing some of these worlds at @nikki_at_mehle starting Dec 6th! Come see some of the creatures and myths I’ve been carrying with me all these years and the stories that inspired them!! More soon ✨
Director, producer, writer, & creature fabrication: Maya Pen
Photo: Alex Hennen Payne @hen.nen
Scenic design: Maya Pen
Scenic Fabrication: Savanna Stephens @savartdesign
Lights: @houseofgrip_la
PA: Anton Guevara-West
Shot at @studiolalalanola ❤️
Thank you to these helping hands:
@besid.juu@magniunm@onlyeddielockwood@majtch7
A short lil excerpt from “The Architect,” another episode from my ongoing storytelling series A Face for a Thousand Heroes.
I will finally be sharing more of this project here in New Orleans in December ✨
Deep appreciation for storyteller Ro Keel @campaign_mama , whose voice we all so lucky to hear ❤️ thank u for trusting me to build a mythical parallel to your experience, and for being my hot ass smart ass cool ass friend!
Director, Producer, Writer: Maya Pen
Cinematographers: Mara Machete, Alex Hennen Payne, Maya Pen
Scenic design & SPFX: Maya Pen
Scenic Fabrication: Savanna Stephens @savartdesign
Lights: @houseofgrip_la
PA: Anton Guevara-West
Shot at @studiolalalanola ❤️
Thank you to these helping hands:
@besid.juu@magniunm@onlyeddielockwood@majtch7
🔥more soon!❤️🔥
Happy #narcolepsyawareness day! My brain is perfect! Here I am at my most beautiful.
If u love me today u will send me pictures u have taken of me sleeping in interesting / public places 4 my collection.
This world is exhausting. I hope you take a nap 2day without feeling sorry about it.
@leonejuice 📸
@dallasharveyfx 🙏🏽🔪
