ice and fire
2018

Ice and fire was carried out at night on a Los Angeles street. Without fire-resistant equipment, I repeatedly ignite my pants. These flames are extinguished as I spin in circles. The largest and final blaze is put out when I drop myself into a bathtub. This piece is an exemplification of the chronic leg pain I have fought against most of my life.

Excerpt from a poem about the performance written for ‘Artcrib 18’:

My pain is physical
A firebird who burns my body
She ignites balls of flame
In the depths of my hips and knees
Gripping up my thighs
I combat her daily blazes with ice—
My ice, her fire, fire and ice, fire, ice, ice and fire.

Assistance by Mari Walker and Doraelia Ruiz. Photos by Julius Tanag.




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