Alchemy & Intention: Summer Solstice Performance Art Festival

Franconia Sculpture Park is pleased to present Alchemy & Intention: Summer Solstice Performance Art Festival taking place from 5pm-11pm on Saturday, June 19, 2021. Featuring the work of 20 artists from across the United States, Alchemy & Intention will activate the 50-acre site of Franconia Sculpture Park through site-specific performances that use the common theme of ritual and resilience as a catalyst for social change and healing.

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, the continued fight for justice as yet another Black man is murdered in our community, and as anti-Asian violence spreads across the country and is confronted head-on by our very own artists-in-residence, Franconia has remained strong and provided a haven for people to spend healing time with art and nature. Now more than ever we understand the importance of having a contemporary art space in rural Minnesota that confronts difficult issues such as systemic racism and white supremacy. Taking place on the evening of Juneteenth, Alchemy & Intention highlights the work of important BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists while providing opportunities for artists and audiences to connect and dialogue around critical issues facing our community.

Alchemy & Intention will celebrate the longest day in the year with performances honoring midsummer, mysticism and magic from 5pm-11pm, culminating in a screening of Kenneth Anger’s iconic short films Lucifer Rising and Invocation of My Demon Brother, concluding with a participatory fire ritual where audiences and artists can come together. Attendees can participate in tarot readings throughout the day, and watch or participate in the varied performance works taking place throughout the park. A limited edition program will be provided to all attendees or a small fee, donated to Black Visions Collective. Alchemy & Intention: Summer Solstice Performance Art Festival is free and open to the public with $5 parking per vehicle.

Detailed information on times and sites of specific performances will be available by May 25, 2021.

Participating Artists:

• Panteha Abareshi (California)
• Courtney Alexander  (Indiana)
• Kris Aman (Pennsylvania)
• Kristin Bauer (Arizona)
• Tsohil Bhatia (India)
• Adam Cooper-Terán (Pennsylvania) 
• Candice Davis (Minnesota) 
• Quinn Dukes (New York)
• Emily Gastineau with Valerie Oliverio, Anna Marie Shogren, and Judith Holo Shuǐ Xiān (Minnesota)
• Angela Jennings (California)
• Suzanne Lindgren (Minnesota) 
• Lela Pierce (Minnesota) 
• Lacey Prpic Hedtke (Minnesota) 
• Vabianna Santos (California)
• Sammy Jean Wilson (California)

Photo credit: Kory Koehnen: Actors Art Moss and Timothy Daly, from the 2016 production.