Just Another Day at Mount Lebanon

The Shakers are a religious sect which had their central ministry at Mount Lebanon, New York during their height in the mid-late 1800s.  Formally known as The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, they were founded in 18th century England as an offshoot of the Quakers and moved to America following a vision from their leader Mother Ann Lee.  Originally known for their transcendent and wild worship services which featured energetic convulsing, the Shakers later toned down their meetings after much public scrutiny and curiosity.  

Widely regarded for their careful craftsmanship and practical furniture and architectural design, they were also resolutely celibate and though they regarded each other as equals, men and women were strictly separated even to the point of constructing two doorways and two staircases in any shared buildings so as not to promote any titillation which may arise from passing one-another too closely.

The centerpiece of this iteration of O.K. – The Musical is two sets of life-sized puppets which can be worn by performers to control the movements of a row of three Shaker worshipers.  Mimicking the Shaker meetings, the performers repeat a traditional hymn “Come Life, Shaker Life”, building up from measured song and dance to climactic, ecstatic trances.

This project features a theatrical cardboard recreation of a Shaker Meeting House interior replete with the iconic Shaker pegs for hanging jackets, hats, and chairs.  In addition to handmade papier-mâché chairs, the installation also features building costumes modeled on the Shaker Meeting House and Brethren Workshop at Mount Lebanon which come to life as the energy of the ritual increases.

A video based on the performances was created with special effects to allow the puppets to sing like humans premiered on CONGLOMERATE in 2018.

For more detailed information, please read the exhibition text.