‘The Creative Corridor’

Strange how different areas attract certain people, well in the USA there is talk of there being a concentration of creative people – creative in this example covers arts and sciences – all people with ideas, here in the axis between Denver, Colorado and  through New Mexico, to Marfa, Texas.  Zozobra is perhaps an example of that kind of creativity – an annual event – become tradition now-  held in the park in downtown Santa Fe.

Zozobra sounds like a Mexican festival, but is relatively young invention. Devised by Will Shuster, (an artist/architect in the 30’s,  who came here to Santa Fe in the hope to be cured of his post World War One induced Tuberculosis)  it provides a spectacle of a 40′ giant animated puppet, called Zozobra – or Old Man Gloom, who is burnt.

He represents negativity, and the burning of him, along with the ‘gloom’ messages left by the crowd, is cathartic for the community. A kind of rebirth, if you will. Very pagan and from the reaction of the crowd, greatly appreciated! Its a simple idea, really, and utterly predictable, but may be that’s what makes this event work so well. Everyone knows exactly what is going to happen. This giant character

towers above the thousands of shrieking onlookers in the park, skull faced, eyes glaring, Zozobra’s moans get increasingly louder. Costumed dancers tease the giant, waving all kinds of fiery torches,  fire fans and Poi at  it. When finally a firework exploded from Zozobras skull and its head catches on fire, the crown really lets rip, and very quickly the giant is ablaze, and falls to the ground.

I caught it all on video, which i will post later to Youtube. What was great about this, for me, was that there were so many people watching, every age, every culture, and a really friendly atmosphere. Everyone but children under 10 had paid 10  to 15 dollars to enter. Announcements made it clear this money goes towards helping children in Santa Fe. This event was the opening of a weekend of the annual Fiesta -a celebration of all the cultures and mixes there of, that make Santa Fe so special.