The University Musical Society presents Virago and the A.W.E. Society at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse our program, The Infinite Detail of This Place and Time.

Using a passage from the Parable of the Sower as a prompt, The A.W.E. Society and Virago will lead you on a meditation on what can be seen when we slow down to look and listen carefully even in the midst of rapidly changing and crumbling social structures. In this time of a mass disabling event, further concentrations of wealth, and continued violence against Black people– what are we composting? What worlds are we bringing forth in the now? What new ways of being together and working together will enable kindness and mutual survival amidst change?

“God is Change” – Lauren Oya Olamina on Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

At the start of the performance, audience members will be invited to participate in a foraging exercise in the area around the Ypsi Freighthouse, collecting city weeds, newspaper scraps, twigs, mushrooms, and other items that will be transformed into simple assemblages. These small assemblages will create immersive projected environments that Virago will use as a visual score, interpreting them into a unique sonic experience on cello, saxophone, violin, and percussion — inviting viewers to bask in the mysterious and awe-inspiring details of this unique place and time.

This performance is presented as part of Parable Path A2Ypsi, which celebrates the work of Octavia E. Butler and reflects on the themes of her novel Parable of the Sower, including sustainability, social justice, spiritual freedom, and inclusivity.

Free Event. Register Here!