Saturday night was a big night at SUSHI. About 150 people, many in wild costume, came out to support the grand opening event with La Pocha Nostra. We gathered at Jsix Bar for drinks and food. When the performers came to fetch us, the weirdness began.
We paraded down the street behind a lit up Cinderella carriage through the Gaslamp. No, we didn’t have a permit, and yes the police did finally see us and ask us to move to the sidewalk. But we were already at Sushi, so mission accomplished. It was a busy night in the Gaslamp so there were lots of people asking who we were and what was happening. It was obviously a happening.
Upon entering the SUSHI space there were a few vignettes set up with the performers for audience interaction. So I grabbed a glass of two buck chuck and interacted. And my husband caught it on his camera. So here, for the first time on the world wide web, a short spontaneous interpretive dance by Indra Gardiner. A real first. And no doubt, last.
When the show began, Guillermo presided at the top of the catwalk, with the deejay behind draped in an American flag. And then the procession onto the catwalk began. I won’t go into all the details. Because there were many. Too many for me, but we were up at 5 am that day as hubby went dirt bike riding, so my attention span was limited. There was a dance sequence that I loved, some symbolism with people’s clothing and juxtapositions that I found powerful and lots of nudity. When I commented to my husband that I thought there was too much nudity, that it kind of lost its power after a while he looked at me sideways and said “Oh come on, that was the best part.” I guess there was something for everyone.
I didn’t understand everything he said, but I enjoyed Guillermo’s short manifestos the most. “We, who make wearable art from your trash.” “No homeland; no fear; no borders; no patriotism; no nation-state; no ideology; no censorship. We are committed to presenting a different face of America.” “We will not stop talking back.”
You can read media reviews at signonsandiego and Culture Lust (check out her great photos, they really give a feel for the evening).
My biggest takeaway was the incredible enthusiasm in the air for SUSHI. Such a diverse San Diego crowd all happy to be part of welcoming SUSHI back home. This art may not be entirely comprehensible by people like me, but we can still appreciate that it deserves a place and now, SUSHI is that place again.
What did you think? I would love to read your impressions.
