6 Questions for Timothy White Eagle of THE INDIGO ROOM

Timothy White Eagle is a mixed race artist. His art practice rises from a decades long exploration of traditional ritual and embodiment practice. He crafts experiences and objects designed to heal both creator and audience. His preferred mediums include objects, photography, performance, and installed space. He is the lead artist of The Indigo Room, which will be performed in the Downstairs Theatre from November 11 – 21. Pay What You Can tickets can be purchased here. Follow @timothy.whiteeagle on Instagram.

1. What inspired you to write The Indigo Room? 

The feelings of being trapped and part of political, colonial, racist, toxic environments and military systems of which I did not approve and had no control over. The feeling of no escaping from current established norms. I started thinking about the old mythologies of being swallowed by a monster. I felt like I had been swallowed by a Monster.

2. What does the title mean?

The story of Indigo in America relates as metaphor. The slave labor forced to process Indigo, how the very early industrial growing and production of Indigo depleted the earth and made plantation owners rich. And how Slaves, trapped in the system used the dregs (i.e. garbage) of the Indigo process to make “haint blue” a protection paint. They made a kind of medicine while trapped from the unwanted remains of an industrial process, that story resonated with me.

3. What should audiences expect from the performance?

Every performance will be a bit different. We work generatively and enjoy performances being alive. As a story teller, I allow my stories to change and grow. We have a wide slate of material to draw from. I do have a solid template to draw within, but I do sometimes vary from what even I expect. The music created between myself and sound artist/composure Crystal Quartez will be unique each night, informed by each audience. There will be a carnival. There will be ritual space. There will be a monster and a whale. There will be things sacred and profane.

4. How would you describe your work as an artist?

All of my work is based in ritual which is reaching toward growth, evolution, and healing.

5. Who or what are your key influences?

In this project, specific intellectual influences include Joseph Campbell, Karl Jung, and Mircea Eliade. 

6. What does working at La MaMa mean to you?

I have been holding a touch for La MaMa for many years. Back in the olden days in the early '90s, On the Boards, an arts organization based in Seattle, was bring folks like Spaulding Gray and John Kelly, among others, out to Seattle from La Mama. And seeing their expanded what I thought performance could be.

La MaMa presents

The Indigo Room

By Timothy White Eagle & The Violet Triangle

November 11 – 21, 2021

The Downstairs
66 East 4th Street, basement level
New York, NY 10003

Thursdays – Saturdays at 8pm
Sundays at 1pm

Tickets:
Pay What You Can: $10 – $60