Whirling dervish, artist, artistic director Gregangelo Herrera is
a native San Franciscan of Lebanese Mexican descent, born to working class
parents in the urban wilderness of the city on the great Pacific. Since the age
of fifteen, he has developed his signature version of the enigmatic dervish
ritual tailored for a secular audience. All of the mysticism, knowledge, and
wonder of the ancient ritual are encrypted into his contemporary show stopping
version.
The performance contemplates humanity and our place in the
universe.
All elements from micro to macro are whirling, from spinning subatomic
particles which make up the revolving cells and atoms of all matter, to the
wonder of a human’s circulatory system, to the rotating of the planets and
stars, to the infinite orbiting solar systems, to the majesty of spiraling
galaxies to the eternal realm of a recycling universe…This is the story of the
whirling dervish.
Gregangelo has a natural talent in sharing: whether it be entertainment,
experiencing his multi sensory installations, or as an artistic director of a
circus helping hundreds of artists in his community to find viable work and
opportunities to do what they love for a living, he completes a cycle of
contribution back to the community.
Gregangelo, like
all genuine artists intuitively falls through the bureaucratic cracks of the
system by creating works that are not easily governed.
At one point I ask Gregangelo about his awesomeness, he looks into
the deliciously tiled mosaic walls and floor bewildered, polka-dots are
sprouting with color and imagination from every corner of the room, his eyes
search for an answer beyond the simple magnificence in every inch of the house
he’s worked on since he was seventeen, as if all the decor is transparent and
the inner workings of the cosmos, one living breathing entity thrives somewhere
in the thick of the room’s plastic bubble shaped contours. Finally he comes up
with an answer, “Talk about my awesomeness?... That’s ridiculous.”
On sex: “No one sees a
whirling dervish and thinks sex. Being a whirling dervish isn’t exactly a chick
or dude magnet. Personal carnal experiences have been sacred, yet scarce, as explosive
as a super nova, as profound as the contemplation of the meaning of the
universe, but as short lived as the life of a gnat. It’s almost disturbing,” he
admits, “like a surge of electricity.”
Gregangelo tends to be
aroused from the heart by more earnest games- such as the process of creating
art and shows with diverse casts of artists, connecting with audiences one
person at a time- like provoking guests who have been married happily for years
to insightfully compliment one another (often against their will), “that is
what really excites me.”
On environment: Gregangelo’s
beliefs are painted in gold, emerald, and azure blue; his beliefs are strung
together in beaded oceans and starry eclipses, “I believe everybody and
everything are all part of one living organism, from every living creature to
every speck of dust in the universe.” He is aware of the blunt contradictions
in his artwork, “I’m creating work on the environment with plastic shit.” Gregangelo
intends to make harsh messages with intoxicatingly beautiful designs and
arrangements; which are indeed toxic. Most visitors don’t even contemplate what
is in front of them, therefore they become part of the message, their naivety
is the glue piecing together fake mother nature, and in a sense eroding their
connection to the natural world.
On Politics: “I don’t like
politicians; however the optimist in me hopes that someday a politician will
prove their self to be a benevolent leader.” Gregangelo once roller skated past
a polished white toothed, designer suit clad politician distributing pamphlets to
a non caring public. Just behind the oblivious politician were two homeless men
publicly masturbating. Gregangelo rolled by him, exclaiming “you just lost my vote;
you don’t even see where you are in the moment.” Politicians barely come out from
behind their security while campaigning; they can’t make a serious impact on a
world they are unable to materialize correctly. Artists do that.
“Live Healthy, Eat Honestly!
(Reverse that) ”—Gregangelo
Commentary - Zola Hjelm,
poet/writer
San Francisco Ruth Asawa School of the Arts
San Francisco Ruth Asawa School of the Arts
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