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The Great Sendoff

The festive funeral of Dutch Fluxus artist Robert Jasper Grootveld on March 7th, 2009

www.iisg.nl/grootveld/index.php

Shamans pray for you.
Your old poet buddies dance like dervishes at one of the many funeral day happenings.
Your friends raise a ~ 20 meter banner with pictures documenting your career. The group pullies it up through electrical wires amidst much chaos which everyone enjoys.
Throughout the day there are somewhat equal portions of tears and laughter.
Your friends travel your coffin by home made raft, with your portrait on it, setting sail in a veritable flotilla for more than an hour to reach the cemetery.
Those not on handmade rafts and boats, walk the entire distance and cheer those water-bound on at every single bridge.
Your friends take turns carrying your casket for more than a kilometer in the biting bitter cold, chanting and singing songs.
They reprint bawdy photos of you from way back, and distribute them to all attending, laughing right above your open grave.
Your friends lower you into your grave by hand, all together, and with their own muscle power.
Your friends bury you themselves.

Debra Solomon

Part of

Leaving the community

Debra Solomon - Rituals for leaving, when in an ideal situation, the group honours your departure

Keywords

Authenticity Culture Catharsis Orchestration Performitivity Engagement Act (Do/not-Do)

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