still-sound 64. Beltane

Happy Beltane!  Today, the first of May, sees the midpoint in the sun's progress between the Spring equinox and the Summer solstice.  Except not really.  The midpoint is actually in a few days from today but pagans celebrate Beltane on the first of the month.  It's also the day of maypoles and lily of the valley.

I imagine there were swarms of people at Stonehenge this morning waiting to greet the rising sun.  They probably celebrated the first glimmers of sun by drumming.  If I still lived in England I would be joining them, wrapped up in blankets to keep warm.

Two years ago I made several sculptures titled Beltane Sun Objects.  I liked the idea of the sun crossing past the swarms of people at Stonehenge. I imagined the shapes of light emerging between the prehistoric sarsen stones.  I exhibited these sculptures in an exhibition called I woke up to the sound of a drum.  At the time of making this work I would celebrate the new moon and full moon by drumming while meditating. 

One evening I drummed for a long while to celebrate the moon.  The next morning I woke up because I heard the sound of the drum coming from the same room where I had been drumming the night before.  I didn't know whether I was awake or dreaming.