THE LIGHT WE NEED RIGHT NOW

Words & Photos by: Desdemona Dallas

I was in flight the day a woman died in Charlottesville, VA at a “Unite the Right” rally on August 12th. My destination? Oregon, where I would be going to the Oregon Eclipse Gathering a music and arts festival. Between flights, I spent my layover watching the news and flinging through my Instagram feed, watching the escalating violence unfold. Over the past year, it seems the country rocketed into darkness with Charlottesville as an intense example of the dividing lines in our country.

When I arrived in Bend, Oregon, where I met up with the Future Clear Brooklyn-based art collective, a group erecting a pyramid installation at the festival, no one had heard about Charlottesville. As Bend was off the radar, I relayed the information of what had been happening in the country outside of their campsite bubble: the “Unite the Right” rally, the torches, the car, the death. Although we were headed into what we knew would be an incredible experience driving into the festival grounds, I couldn’t shake the knowledge of the tragedies that were occurring in our country. The world’s realities versus our own.

I entered into Oregon Eclipse with a sadness on my shoulders. Luckily, the festival lineup offered artists who’s focus is to stand up for social justice work and “preach” to a brighter future, which brought me back to the feeling that not everyone is evil and humanity might survive after all. I realized that these emerging artists in the festival community are voices that can continue to spark hope, conversation, and change as we dive deeper into a world that is becoming increasingly terrifying.

Climbing Poetree

The first of these lyrically evoking artists speckled into the electronic landscape is Climbing Poetree. Hailing from Brooklyn, NY, Climbing Poetree has been performing their poems for nearly two decades. Their words speak of the harsh reality of the world we live in: “My brother’s death is not a coincidence, he is a catalyst for reconfiguring the sacred geometry of living”. The two artists have a way with words that recognize the darkness inside the political landscape and are able to awaken something deeper inside their listeners as catalysts for change.

Climbing Poetree’s work focuses on racial issues in America, and how we see ourselves and others. They dive into self worth and self hatred, trying to inspire self love. They see the deaths of many and hope they will be worth a future for others. Climbing Poetree asks us to partake in the knowledge that the world is not perfect, but maybe there is a reason behind the illusions of who dies and why, and who lives and how.

While their previous work has highlighted their words through spoken word poetry, the last album they released has an added element of music. Incorporating traditional Peruvian flute, gospel singers, violin and instrumental backing, the power of their words was strengthened, as their poetry turned to mantra, into the chords of the crowd.

Ayla Nereo

Taking her platform on one of my favorite stages of the week, the Silk Road, which was populated with sounds from Cumbia to Eastern from Dirtwire to Climbing Poetree, Ayla Nereo radiated in an afternoon sunset to share her ideas on sustainability, community, and love. Festivalgoers first fell in love with Ayla through her acoustic songs and sweet, yet prominent vocals when she emerged on the scene about five years ago. Watching her grow into the artist she has become has been a truly magnificent journey.

I first noticed Ayla’s interest in using her voice to speak out about what could happen when we all come together, when she, and her musical and life partner The Polish Ambassador hit the road on their Permaculture Action Tour. This tour asked the question, “How do we take the energy created at shows, and seed it back into the communities?”