All Souls

Video click here  A special tribute video to the Spirit Group at All Souls Procession 2010

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One of the thousands of participants in the 2009 All Souls Procession.

All Souls provides a photo adventure

This image is from the All Souls procession, 2009. An estimated 20,000 people were in attendance. This year they are expecting to have just as many participants.

The parade of participants begins at Epic Cafe on 4th avenue then weaves through downtown and the warehouse arts district ultimately ending at the vacant lot at  Toole  across from Solar Culture.

The intention of the All Souls Procession is to honor the dead. Everyone is welcome to walk in the parade and encouraged to wear costumes.

The imagery is unique and seldom seen anywhere else. It is a photographers dream because everyone is encouraged to dress up to honor their loved ones who have passed.

This yearly ritualistic event, which started in 1990 by  Susan Johnson who was grieving the passing of her father, is considered to be “One of the most inclusive and authentic public ceremonies in North America today” according to its sponsor Many Mouths One Stomach.

The two-mile long procession features a variety of installation art, alters, performers and other surreal characterizations of humanity. As this chain of humanity dances, frolics and moves in and out of reality a 20 foot round urn gets pulled by a spirit group composed of local residents. Their job is to gather prayers which get placed inside the urn and hold sacred space as the urn makes it way to the end.

Once it reaches the final staging area it is lit on fire and hoisted 200 feet into to air. This sends the prayers of love and caring into the cosmos. Prior to that aerial artists are lifted into the sky and perform from floating balloons. It is an amazing and breathtaking event.

Once again, the procession is a photographers dream packed with high energy opportunities. If you are an image capture person, don’t miss the All Souls Procession. Even if you are not a shutterbug, go for the entertainment and enlightenment.