RAINAFTERASH

RAIN AFTER ASH is a site-specific theatrical event devised by Corey Madden and her creative collaborators to be played in selected galleries and courtyard spaces of festival presenting partner, Pacific Asia Museum. The evening’s drama will unfold as small audience groups move through the collections on a guided audio tour, encountering performers, spectral projections and evocative soundscapes.

RAIN is inspired by the story of American poet Craig Arnold, who went missing in 2009 on the volcanic Ryuku Islands of Japan while on a pilgrimage following the footsteps of 17th century haiku poet Basho. During two weeks of search and rescue efforts Facebook became a focal point for family and friends — even strangers — for shared expressions of concern and, ultimately, grief.

RAIN AFTER ASH marries Arnold’s own literary forebodings and preoccupations with Greek myth with the artists’ exploration of our contemporary culture’s technological response to apparently random and uncontrollable forces that impact our lives.

(Craig Arnold’s writing used with permission.)

Commissioned and Produced by Pasadena’s A x S Festival in 2011 in association with L’Atelier Arts. Presented at the Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena, CA. Production Photos by Gregory Moore and Yutaka Takeuchi.

AXS Festival: Pacific Asia Museum

Written and Directed by: Corey Madden

Original Music and Sound by: Bruno Louchouarn

Projection Design by: Jason H. Thompson

Costume Design by: E.B. Brooks

With contributions from the kimono collection of Alpha Takahachi.

Performers:

Craig- Jeff Gardner,

Persephone- Alpha Takahachi,

Demeter- Marnie Mosiman