(De)monstro: A Participatory Ritual by CRASIS

Join us for a special art performance by collaborative duo CRASIS on Saturday, September 12, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington. (De)monstro is a participatory ritual blending spoken word, music, puppet theater, and sacred clowning. Framed from a queer, eco-feminist perspective, the performance honors destruction in service of life. From props and puppets to costumes, every visual element is crafted from foraged plant and fungal materials, as well as salvaged textiles, wood, metal, and papier-mâché. Audience members are invited to actively participate by creating sound for the ritual using handmade devices and by feeding the monsters “chunks of reality” to be magically destroyed.

Show Runtime: 35 minutes
Q&A to follow!

About CRASIS

CRASIS (/krey-sis/ — from the Greek κρᾶσις, meaning “mixing” or “blending”) is the collaborative duo of Andy P. Davis and Anne Lukins (2024 Galveston Artist Residency, 2024 Stoveworks Artist Residency). Their projects use participatory live performance to channel an emerging mythical cosmology engaged with questions of human ecology. Drawing characters from personal narrative, the material environment, and ancient and contemporary cultures, CRASIS has performed and exhibited at venues internationally, including A Leste Studio (Portugal), Vox Populi Gallery and Icebox Project Space (Philadelphia, PA), and The Orange Show (Houston, TX).

Event Schedule

Pre-Show Gallery Access | 5PM to 6PM
Arrive early to explore the exhibitions during special extended gallery hours before the main performance.

(De)monstro Performance | 6PM to 6:45PM
Experience the interactive, participatory ritual blending spoken word, music, puppet theater, and sacred clowning.

Post-Show Q&A | 6:45PM to 7PM
Stay after the performance for an intimate discussion and Q&A session guided by MoCA Arlington Senior Curator & Director of Exhibitions Blair Murphy.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Where is the event located?
  The event will be hosted inside the Tiffany Gallery at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington (located at 3550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201).
• Is there parking available?
  Yes, free on-site parking is available in the museum lot for all attendees. The venue is also easily accessible via the Virginia Square-GMU Metro station.
• Do I need to reserve a ticket?
  Due to the intimate nature of the gallery space, we have a limited capacity of ~50 guests. Advanced registration is highly recommended to guarantee entry.
• Is the venue wheelchair accessible?
  Yes, MoCA Arlington galleries and parking facilities are fully ADA accessible. If you require specific seating accommodations, please contact the museum staff ahead of time.