"BONFIRES
for Peace," the Traveling Bonfires' movable feast of family fun and
community connectedness through music, arts and dancing, are back at
Pritchard Park this summer—on Aug 19, Sept 9 and Sept 15, 4 to 9 in
the evening.
The
events are free to the public. Pritchard Park is located right in the
heart of downtown Asheville. Touch Samadhi, featuring Kri, Goadream
and Sensoma provide music on Aug 19. Touch Samadhi, with a new set of
DJ's, will be back on Sept 9.
Touch
Samadhi is a community of “trance Goa” DJ's that takes its
spiritual root in Goa, a small state in India. Mythology says Goa is
associated with “spiritually cleansing touch,” a peacefulness or
consciousness that Traveling Bonfires believes fit well with its
vision-mission of global peace and community harmony through
diversity.
“We
see the need to effect a vibe of peace and joy in Asheville in the
light of a record increase in crime and violence in the last few
years,” says TBonfires founding executive director Pasckie Pascua.
“We don't have to launch speeches, we just play music and enjoin
the community to come out, dance and be together.”
The
Traveling Bonfires produced an unprecedented 16 weekend events here
in 2004, and more through ensuing years. The organization has also
produced similar outdoor and indoor events in New York City,
Baltimore, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Manila and
Baguio in the Philippines where it originated, “instigating arts
and music events and bringing people together in celebration of peace
and multicultural connectedness. “
The
local band Zealots headline the Sept 15 event, which also features
other local acts, poets and performers. Meantime, Traveling Bonfires
holds parallel shows in choice venues in downtown.
On
Sept 11, visiting poet from England, James McKay reads with Pascua
and Caleb Beissert at Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar, 1
Page Avenue. The group also holds another poetry and music event at
Vanuatu Kava Bar on Eagle Street on Sept 22. TBonfires will serve
“mung beans soup” (with kava-kava), a dinner staple in the
Pacific Islands, especially during typhoon seasons. Both programs are
part of the organization's “Love is a Flower” summer series.
The
Traveling Bonfires' events enjoyed the support of a number of local
Asheville businesses, organizations, and individuals. Projects have
benefitted non-profit organizations that work with at-risk youths,
families of the disappeared, orphans, and disaster victims.
For
more info, http://ashevilletravelingbonfires.blogspot.com/
or call Marta Osborne at 828 280 1555 or email pasckie@yahoo.com
