Breastplate Worn While Keening at the Edge of Empire

Ephemera from a performance art piece, Keening at the Edge of Empire. An enactment of a historic grief ritual, the performance facilitated collective catharsis in response to ecological and immigration crises. I created this “breastplate” of python bones to wear during the ritual. Knotted like prayer beads, the strands carry a symbolic charge, referencing shamanic teachings that bones offer power and protection. This vestment / amulet draped my body during the ritual and acts as a record of this outpouring of grief, which also reflects the deep love we hold for the land and our hopes for its future.