Featured Artists
Miko Kuro's Midnight Tea, has from its humble beginnings, drawn to the project the creme de la creme of creative folks. The SPRING TEA event on March 1, 2014, at the Taoist Studies Institute was no exception.
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Musicians, Larry Lawson (shakuhachi) and Chigusa Kitai (koto) created a playful yet meditative atmosphere, filigreed with poetry, song, stories, and even tiny-teacup-percussion provided by the guests. It's precisely this interactive nature of Midnight Tea that makes this experience like no other. There is no fourth wall, there is no wall at all, each guest who comes to the tea is invited to collaborate and work with the Featured Artists to create an aesthetic experience made sacred by the shared vision and intention to work together.
Bonnie Brooks (Blue Gourami) and Belle McCluskey (Boring Sidney) facilitated the guests' transformation from worldly to other-worldly midnight adventurers. Each of the 12 special guests was outfitted with custom-made water-sleeves, so that their every gesture left a petal-like trail in the air. And by far, the most spectacular element of the tea were Belle's hats, which read more like couture head-pieces-- each one an exquisitely hand-crafted wearable work of art! See more here.
Not to be outdone, the tea itself was also incredibly tasty-- with 3 types in circulation, guests did not go thirsty! In keeping with tradition, we welcomed the new season with high mountain oolong tea provided generously by Virginia Wright of Phoenix Tea. Brian Baron (Beijing) also steeped fresh lavender and blue lotus tea while breakdancing. Midnight Tea is many things, but never boring, or expected. What you take away from these rituals is commensurate with what you put in. It's been an honor to work with such immensely talented people!
