On first Friday night in downtown Phoenix many galleries, studios, artists, playwrights, musicians, and multiple creatives present their talents and strive to showcase the beauty of downtown Phoenix. AFTER is a temporal social art installation. It is a community dinner that we prepare to help nourish our bodies and bring our creative community together. In diné fashion we share water and salt. Apa
rt from first Fridays we celebrate the seasons and often have impromptu dinners. This page will post such events and as always you're invited. Although I provide food and space, nothing is really ever free. AFTER is dependent on donations in order to be sustainable. We offer the square for donation, as well as a jar, other than monetary donations, there are other ways to contribute ie: setting up, cleaning, taking down, or cooking chopping, cutting, etc. . . If anything please be responsible as we use ceramics and glass wear, and knives are sharp. No smoking inside the house or the cuddle puddle and remember pots are not ashtrays. I make a big batch of my slightly spicy sangria, sharing is caring. I do not drink beer so I don't provide it, we have a you bring it you share it policy with beers so no hoarding. We also have non-alcoholic drinks, sparkling water, and sodas. Feel free to bring anything you like, wine, spirits, mixers, and ice are always welcomed. Our table is an inclusive one with several vegan and gluten-free dishes. We employ the slow food concepts and when possible use local, organic or pesticide free produce, sundries, and staples. Food brings us together. In diné philosophy all sources of food deserve reverence no matter our personal preferences and choices. Diné are a people that live in a semi-arid landscape where water tó is precious and at times elusive. During social and ceremonial gatherings water is the first item to be shared. It represents the generosity of the house, the communion of those present, and the prosperity of all growing and living beings. We do this right before we partake of the meal, a simple yet sacred ritual in diné homes. I am of the bitterwater people born for salt, my maternal grandparental clan is the travelers known as Spanish. My paternal grandparental clan is under-one's-cover people. When a child is born, the child is born with pain. When the child laughs then the child is welcomed as a human who is aware of the spectrum of emotion. A simple ritual of sharing salt is done in honor of the young human. At our house we grind and share rock salt as I am born for the salt clan and we do this to bring our energy together thus flavoring our meal and our lives.
