Clowns Against Imperialism
Wednesday, May 13 | 6-7:30pm | First Lutheran Church
Sunday, May 31 & June 7 | 12-2pm | Waterstop Infoshop
More Dates & Locations TBA
Sacred Clowns appear in every Native culture as social critics of the highest order. Sacred Clowns’ mimicry and joking expose hypocrisy and arrogance. Their portrayals of ridiculous behavior show people their own foolishness and blind-spots. They act silly, childish, greedy, selfish, and lewd. They play with death, risk it all, speak the truth, and don't get caught. Sacred Clowns are dangerous to tyrants and exploiters because of their complete chaos and honesty disguised as entertainment. They see with the eyes of a child and are sometimes called “destroyer of heroes.” When we become too heavy with self-importance, Sacred Clowns knock some of the load away and lighten us up. Sacred Clowns fail spectacularly and humble us in our problem solving pursuits. They don’t drown in despair or kill themselves in frustration; they survive and adapt, changing form and becoming invisible, if necessary. Sacred Clowns function as mirrors in which we see our folly as well as our resilience. They shows us how we trick ourselves. When their rampant curiosity backfires, something new is discovered (though usually not what they expected). Creativity emerges to try something different. A breakthrough occurs! We are released! The world is created anew! The power of the Sacred Clown is the power of life itself. A Clown becomes Sacred by opening themselves up – they are vulnerable, fluid, and open to Life Force, yet they have learned to move safely through an insane world by using masks, disguises, tricks, and transformations (“Path of the Sacred Clown” by Peggy Andreas).
Clowns Against Imperialism is a free intro workshop to clowning to empower people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to develop Sacred Clown characters in response to American imperialism. Participants will be invited to develop one-acts for America’s Last Act—a funeral march for American empire taking place Sunday, May 17th as part of Smelt Parade & Sunday, June 14th in Duluth as part of a Livable Futures Prayer Walk.
FACILITATORS
Thomlin Swan (they/he) is a queer, Jewish artist, organizer, and co-founder of Emergent Seas Great Lakes Storying Collective. Thomlin has been learning from Black and Indigenous Water Protectors and Water Warriors around the Great Lakes about how to respond to and learn from the crises of environmental racism and boom-and-bust collapse. Thomlin is excited to be helping create the 2026 Amerikin Carnival—an all-senses experience in navigating geographic, cultural, and spiritual migratory paths out of isolation and into connection. Thomlin lives in Nahgachiwanong (Cloquet, MN) with their family.
Augustin Ganley is a Duluth-area filmmaker, teacher, and co-founder of Emergent Seas Great Lakes Storying Collective. Augustin comes from Irish settlers in Minneapolis; a lifetime of hunger and glut has prepared him to walk through the death of America with tolerably good humor. A portrait of Charlie Chaplin hung above Augustin's crib as a baby, haunting his young mind well into middle age. Augustin also lives in Nahgachiwanong (Cloquet, MN) with his family.