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To Believe
David Cannon Dashiell
Robert Flack
Frank Haines
Rachel Harrison
Ben Judd
Susan MacWilliam
Joanna MalinowskaShana Moulton
Bede Murphy
Jeanine Oleson
Clifford Smith
Spirit Tours (Dave Hardy & Siebren Versteeg)Scott Treleaven
curated by Jeffrey Walkowiakfor Visual AIDS
at La Mama Gallery June 3 - June 27, 2010
Events:
Opening Reception: Thursday, June 3rd 6 - 9pm
Jeanine Oleson: I Ran Contraband Spirituality
Spirit Tours 2010
Sunday, June 6th, 4 -6 pm
Screening of works by Ben Judd, Shana Moulton, Scott Treleaven
Visual AIDS Fundraiser at Eastern Bloc
Sunday, June 13th, 4 - 6pm
Unarius Screening hosted by Bede Murphy
Sunday, June 20th, 4 -6 pm
Screening of works by Susan MacWilliam
Sunday, June 27th, 4 - 8pm
Performances by Ben Judd and Blanko & Noiry
i grew up in Portsmouth, NH. and was educated in the public school system. for me, attending school field trips entailed visits to historical New England sites; Strawberry Banke, The John Paul Jones House, Salem Witch Museum among others. on rare occasions we would visit an amusement park such as Canobie Lake Park (usually occurring towards the end of the school year as to be deemed a "reward"). so it was to my surprise when i learned of America's Stonehenge in Salem, NH. a mere 45 miles away from my hometown and minutes away from the above mentioned amusement park. a few years ago when someone had the audacity to remake one of my favorite films, The Wicker Man (1973) i was inspired to look into the pagan ritual of the seasonal solstice. i soon learned of the mysterious stone formations that compile the calendrical site that, somehow, my childhood educational trips overlooked.
opening to the public in 1958 as Mystery Hill, America's Stonge is believed to be over 4000 years old. spanning over thirty acres, the site is an organized system of chambers, drains, basins, enclosures, table-like structures and standing stones, some weighing up to 11 tons. there are supposedly over 350 other megalithic sites in New England ranging from single chambers to other astronomically aligned sites. more information can be found at the New England Antiquities Research Association. America's Stonehenge is still under continuous research and radio carbon dating of matter taken from the site suggests that Phoenicians, Celts and possibly others settled here long before Christopher Columbus made his "discovery". i also learned that solstice rituals are still performed at America's Stonehenge.
a small recruited team of friends made the pilgrimage from New York City aided by a GPS device. being a privately owned site of outdated rituals, America's Stonehenge, like any other historic landmark, must consider any financial opportunity to help supplement their income. so after we paid the very reasonable admission fee, we tried not to let the new agey crystal selling gift shop and caged alpacas taint our expectations of what we were about to experience. however, in the gift shop/ visitors center they screen an episode of the television series In Search Of (1976 - 1982), hosted by Leonard Nemoy that features America's Stonehenge. (although i do not recall this particular episode from my childhood - i was an devoted watcher - i am convinced that In Search Of... is one of the reasons i have started this collection of documented accounts). they also sell a variety of of hokey memorabilia such as dream catchers, candles and crystals, but they also have a nice selection of books about New England ghost stories and folklore.
Summer Solstice is a turning point, marking the longest day in the year when the sun has reached its highest point in the sky before it begins the journey to the south. in ancient times it allowed for more hours to be spent working in the fields and was thought to be the moment when vegetation was at its peak. water, flowers and herbs play key characters in various rituals that honor this time. for the past several years the rituals held at America's Stonehenge have been led by Katja Esser, a visual and performing artist from The Netherlands. the events are highly participatory requesting that all attendees bring flowers as offerings and decoration for the altar, and to dress in festive attire. 
dosing ourselves with insect repellent (thoughtfully provided by the folks at America's Stonhenge) we were led in procession by "gatekeepers" up a winding, rocky path through the center of the astronomical circle to the ritual site. at various points known as "shrines" we were greeted by "shrine keepers" donning fairy wings, flowered head-dresses, feathers and bells, each conveying messages that expressed various points of the ritual: the significance of water (its refreshing properties during the hot summer months; its necessity for fruitful crops, etc..), the remembrance of past gifts and the renewal of energies from the sun. 
we gathered around a flower shaped altar located at the sunrise stone where we would soon place our own offerings. led through a series of chants, dances and meditations by Katja and her assistants we participated as an entire group and also as gender divided sections. the summer solstice is also a moment recognized for the honoring of the Sun King by the Earth Godess, hence the gender division. in general, the ritual honors the sun and the earth and is geared towards restoring our relationship with ourselves, the earth, spirit and community. it brings together people with different views and backgrounds who are all affected by the sun’s position in the sky, whether we realize it or not.
the ritual ended in a frenzied dance circle around the altar by anyone who felt inclined to join in on the renewal of energy. an additional element of the ritual is the sharing of food, currently represented as a potluck. but we opted to search for the more refined dinning alternative of a seafood restaurant; it being New England after all. and although we departed for a while, we did return to witness the breathtaking sunset behind the Summer Solstice Sunset Monolith. this was perhaps the most "spiritual" or "mystical" event of the day. the glow of the sunset down the ancient clearing of trees in this woodened area was magnificent.
in november 2008 i traveled to Torino, Italy for Artissima 15 the contemporary art fair. Torino is considered the Detroit of Italy - being the home of the former Fiat factory, and the capital of the Alps. but what is not widely known about Torino is it's mysterious affiliations with the occult. it is known as a center for mysticism that has transpired over centuries and it is thought to be a center for both white and black magic: a point of a white magic triangle, with Prague and Lyon; and a black magic triangle, with London and San Francisco.
preliminary internet research led me to locate a number of sites known for charged mystical activities or practices. the following is documentation of a tour i comprised from an American Express travelcast and a text Satan's city A-Z by Dr. Leo Ruickbie found on witchology.com. and although i did not experience any mystical activity during my visit, the presence of Torino's suggested history can definitely be sensed.Piazza Castello
the Piazza Castello is located in the heart of Torino and was built by Duke Emanuele Filiberto in the 16th century. Emanuele changed Torino from a medieval market town to a capital city. he was well versed in the practice of alchemy and engaged in a number of experiments that took place in numerous caves and passages located below the Palazzo Madama (seen above with its baroque facade attached to a red brick castle). it is here that Emanuele and his sorcerers attempted to create The Philospher's Stone; a material hard as a rock but malleable as wax and obtaining the capability of turning base metals into gold. The Philospher's Stone also is believed to have rejuvenating powers and possibly the ability to obtain immortality. Emanuele was also a friend and follower of Nostradamus who predicted the death of his son Carlo Emanuele the 1st, at the age of 69.
guarding the Palazzo Reale is a green gate adorned by the Gemini twins Astor and Pollux; the Greek Mythological twins who obtained the ability to alternate between the underworld and the mortal world. these gates are said to guard the heart of white magic of the city and stand at an invisible line where the sacred and the diabolical meet.The Shroud of Turin
located in the Piazza San Giovanni, Turin's Duomo hosts one of the most famous mystical relics; the Shroud of Turin. for years millions of pilgrims have traveled the earth to visit this controversial Christian relic. brought to Torino by Emanuale Filiberto the shroud's authenticity has been questioned for decades. the first photograph of the shroud was taken in 1898 and triggered intensive scientific research. in 1988
experts from Oxford University conducted radiocarbon dating on the shroud and proclaimed it a medieval fake. however, other experiments proved the shroud contained ancient pollens from a plant, that is indigenous to ancient Palenstine, embedded in its fibers. the image on the cloth is like a photographic negative, produced hundreds of years before the invention of photography. the Shroud is rarely exhibited and is contained in a bullet proof case.Porta Palatina
when Torino was founded by Roman emperor Caesar Ottaviano Augustus it was a walled city situated on a main route from Rome to France. the city's wall had four gates, each placed at a point representative of the directions of a compass, Porto Palatina being the north gate. Torino is located on the confluence of the River Po and River Dora, rivers that mystically represent the Sun and Moon. their merger creates a ring of protection around the city.Santuario della Consolata
nestled in a discrete corner is the Santuario della Consolota, heralded as a place of worship for the comforting Virgin Mary. within its jewel box baroque interior are numerous altars and enclaves filled with medals, photographs and identification cards left as mementos by visitors who were comforted from such tragedies as illness, death, poverty and war.
Palazzo Paesana
located around the corner from the Santuario della Consolata, is the Palazzo Paesana, built around 1720 as a commission for the Count Baldassarre of Saluzzo. during a 1902 renovation the body of a missing girl was found in the basement. in 1903 another young girl, still alive, was found in the same location. many men were arrested and accused of the crimes, but ultimately it was a mentally-challenged garbage collector who eventually confessed. he admitted to the crimes and claimed he was followed by a big shadow who forced him to kill. since then Turino has harbored a number of notable serial killers including Peppino Pisanu (1972 - 1998), Calogero Consales (1980 - 1997) and Giancarlo Giudice (1984 - 1986).Piazza Statuto
Piazza Statuto is located at the western end of via Garibaldi, a main shopping street and supposedly one of the most haunted locations in Torino. this piazza is the home of the macabre sculpture by Luigi Bella, created in 1879 commemorating the workers who built the Frejuls tunnel through the Alps. the raw stone sculpture is draped with bodies; falling, climbing and crushed by a stone spire which is crowned by an angelic figure believed to be the fallen angel Lucifer.
Piazza Statuto is said to be the black heart of the Torino and is located at the opposite end of via Garibaldi from the white heart, Piazza Castello. Piazza Statuto was once the western outskirts of the city, a place where light ended and darkness began, and coincidentally a necropolis, the site for executions and a depository for the dead during the Roman era. today, located nearby is the entrance to the labyrnith that is the city's underground sewer system which is where the supposed gate to hell can be found. the square's dark reputation has attracted many including the painter Giorgio de Chirico. much of the work from his surrealist period depicts desolate squares with repetitious arches and deep shadows such as the ones found on Piazza Statuto or Piazza Vittorio Veneto.
de Chirico was additionally drawn to Torino because Friedrich Nietzsche also resided there for a short while. Piazza Solferino
Fontana Angelica is large semi-circle fountain placed in front of Torino's main tourist information office; a contemporary building consisting of two large glass pyramid domes. the fountain was created in 1930 by Giovanni Riva and commissioned by a city official in memory of his parents, his mother's name being Angelica. the fountain was intended to be located next to a cathederal, but when Riva's affiliation with the freemasons was discovered the church forbode the fountain to be located near any Christian location. the church's relentless adversion for the possible masonic imagery presented in the fountain forced this fountain to be built here in the Piazza Solferino, across from an opera house.
the fountain represents the four seasons; spring and summer as female figures and autumn and winter as male. the two hulking male figures face opposite directions of spring and summer and are said to represent the Pillars of Hercules and the Cave of Light. the negative rectangular space between autumn and winter from which water spouts is said to be a threshold to an unknown dimension; Porta dell'Infinito, a gateway to infinity.Casa dei Tarocchi
to the east of Piazza Solferino is the narrow street via Alfieri where at #15 the Casa dei Tarocchi of the Savoy Dynasty was located. the Savoy Dynasty formed in the early 11th century and grew to rule the "kingdom" of Italy until the end of the Second World War. there are still many descendants who insist in exercising their "royal" titles. this site was where the Savoy's had their Tarot cards printed.
Palazzo Levaldigi
further down via Alfieri at the corner of via XX Setemmbre is the Palazzo Levaldigi,
allegedly another site of a Tarot card factory. however Palazzo Levaldigi,
now Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, is also known as La Porta del Diavolo, the Gate of the Devil. the iron-work gates and intricate detail of the wooden front doors hint towards this aspect of the buildings history. the door knocker is a gold ram's head with two intertwined serpents dangling from its mouth. it is also said that the building is haunted by the ghost of a murdered ballet dancer who was killed during a three-day long party.
Gran Madre di Dio
across the river Po is the Gran Madre di Dio. the church was designed by the architect Ferdinando Bonsignore in celebration of the end of Napoleon's rule and the return of power to the Savoy king Vittorio. two female figures flank the stairs that lead to the church: Religion on the right and Faith on the left. held in the hand of Faith is a chalice, a reference to the notion that the Holy Grail is buried close by. same say the statue of Faith is pointing in the direction to where the Holy Grail is buried, while others believe an older statue that has thus been destroyed pointed to the grail's locations. a relic of Christian mythology the Holy Grail was the vessel used by Jesus at the last supper and is said to hold miraculous powers.
it is also said that at this spot on the river Po was the location of a temple to the Egyptian godesses Isis.
in January 2008 a vial of holy water and a prayer book were stolen from the Gran Madre de Dio. the culprites are believed to be satanists who stole the items for use in a black magic ritual. a prayer book can be used to organize a black mass and the objects stolen from an important magical site are said to have more power in such rituals.
Galleria Subalpina: Friedrich Nietzsche's Apartment
Friedrich Nietzsche's apartment is not necessarily a site for mystical or occult activities. however, his presence in this city and his attraction to it are in harmony with the cities reputation for the dark arts. Nietzsche's view of organized religion, mortality and belief seems most appropriately aligned with Torino's supernatural history. from 1888 to 1889 the philosopher spent two months in the spring and fall in Torino, one of three different residences that, he was convinced, had the same air quality at different times of the year. it is here in Torino where Nietzsche stated "God is dead" and also where he suffered a public, psychotic breakdown which led to his departure to a psychiatric clinic in Basel, Switzerland.
his apartment located at #6 Piazza via Carlo Alberto, has been preserved and can be glimpsed from the arcade below. it is on the second floor and a light is usually on.
the Piazza Castello is located in the heart of Torino and was built by Duke Emanuele Filiberto in the 16th century. Emanuele changed Torino from a medieval market town to a capital city. he was well versed in the practice of alchemy and engaged in a number of experiments that took place in numerous caves and passages located below the Palazzo Madama (seen above with its baroque facade attached to a red brick castle). it is here that Emanuele and his sorcerers attempted to create The Philospher's Stone; a material hard as a rock but malleable as wax and obtaining the capability of turning base metals into gold. The Philospher's Stone also is believed to have rejuvenating powers and possibly the ability to obtain immortality. Emanuele was also a friend and follower of Nostradamus who predicted the death of his son Carlo Emanuele the 1st, at the age of 69.
guarding the Palazzo Reale is a green gate adorned by the Gemini twins Astor and Pollux; the Greek Mythological twins who obtained the ability to alternate between the underworld and the mortal world. these gates are said to guard the heart of white magic of the city and stand at an invisible line where the sacred and the diabolical meet.
when Torino was founded by Roman emperor Caesar Ottaviano Augustus it was a walled city situated on a main route from Rome to France. the city's wall had four gates, each placed at a point representative of the directions of a compass, Porto Palatina being the north gate. Torino is located on the confluence of the River Po and River Dora, rivers that mystically represent the Sun and Moon. their merger creates a ring of protection around the city.
Piazza Statuto is said to be the black heart of the Torino and is located at the opposite end of via Garibaldi from the white heart, Piazza Castello. Piazza Statuto was once the western outskirts of the city, a place where light ended and darkness began, and coincidentally a necropolis, the site for executions and a depository for the dead during the Roman era. today, located nearby is the entrance to the labyrnith that is the city's underground sewer system which is where the supposed gate to hell can be found. the square's dark reputation has attracted many including the painter Giorgio de Chirico. much of the work from his surrealist period depicts desolate squares with repetitious arches and deep shadows such as the ones found on Piazza Statuto or Piazza Vittorio Veneto. de Chirico was additionally drawn to Torino because Friedrich Nietzsche also resided there for a short while. 
