Somebody died; these are her friends
September 2, 2017 8:40 PM Subscribe
Seattle artist Briar Bates had one final wish before her death from cancer; for her friends to perform a water ballet entitled "Ankle Deep" in the wading pool at Volunteer Park.
Wow. I take my kids to this pool all the time.
Once the gang arrived at Volunteer Park, a young Seattle Parks and Recreation employee who declined to give his name (“I’m not authorized to be quoted”) stood by the wading pool where a few oblivious kids frolicked. He looked a little wary and a little baffled, even though he had seen small, piecemeal rehearsals in the pool before. But this time, nearly 50 dancers had suddenly arrived.
Was the Parks employee going to evict the dancers?
“No, no.” he said quietly. “Because their friend died.”
I fucking hate cancer but goddamn I love Seattle.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:39 PM on September 2, 2017 [24 favorites]
Once the gang arrived at Volunteer Park, a young Seattle Parks and Recreation employee who declined to give his name (“I’m not authorized to be quoted”) stood by the wading pool where a few oblivious kids frolicked. He looked a little wary and a little baffled, even though he had seen small, piecemeal rehearsals in the pool before. But this time, nearly 50 dancers had suddenly arrived.
Was the Parks employee going to evict the dancers?
“No, no.” he said quietly. “Because their friend died.”
I fucking hate cancer but goddamn I love Seattle.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:39 PM on September 2, 2017 [24 favorites]
gosh, that was sweet. what wonderful friends she had
posted by james33 at 3:47 AM on September 3, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by james33 at 3:47 AM on September 3, 2017 [5 favorites]
*sniffles*
posted by Fizz at 4:51 AM on September 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Fizz at 4:51 AM on September 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh, I'm flat out ugly crying. To live a life such that your loved ones were willing to execute something like this for you after you were gone... well, that would be something.
posted by joycehealy at 5:34 AM on September 3, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by joycehealy at 5:34 AM on September 3, 2017 [6 favorites]
What a memory to leave for your friends!!
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 6:49 AM on September 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 6:49 AM on September 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
For a community like this with so much love, what a gift to give them some proper ritual of memorial.
posted by wotsac at 6:58 AM on September 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by wotsac at 6:58 AM on September 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
I knew some of the environmental artwork on her page looked familiar, particularly the mossy daybed. She was at Smoke Farm for LoFi 2013. I was there being an assistant artist and PA for a friend's installation. This means I probably shared the long table with Briar at the artist's dinner the night before LoFi opened to the public.
The world is too small, sometimes, and too weird.
posted by loquacious at 7:57 AM on September 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
The world is too small, sometimes, and too weird.
posted by loquacious at 7:57 AM on September 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
Briar had a beautiful soul, and I say that as someone who only met her briefly and knew her peripherally, primarily through the dozens of others who loved her and showed her beauty to the world. It was a beautiful catharsis for our community to help with the loss of someone so amazing.
Be the kind of person who inspires your friends to do a water ballet in your honor.
posted by Revvy at 9:48 AM on September 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
Be the kind of person who inspires your friends to do a water ballet in your honor.
posted by Revvy at 9:48 AM on September 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
Wow. This is amazing and wonderful and sublime. A perfect example of "participating joyfully in the sorrows of the world." I am sorry those folks lost their friend to cancer, she clearly was a bright and beautiful soul. What a lovely way to honor her memory.
.
posted by pjsky at 11:29 AM on September 3, 2017
.
posted by pjsky at 11:29 AM on September 3, 2017
Just amazing. I'm staring at the screen but it's blurry. What's happening to my eyes?
She must have been an incredible person to have that many people celebrate her life in such a public and unusual manner. Kudos. Rest in peace.
posted by NeoRothbardian at 2:29 PM on September 3, 2017
She must have been an incredible person to have that many people celebrate her life in such a public and unusual manner. Kudos. Rest in peace.
posted by NeoRothbardian at 2:29 PM on September 3, 2017
Wonderful. Thankyou for sharing this loving tribute. It made me smile.
posted by harriet vane at 7:43 AM on September 4, 2017
posted by harriet vane at 7:43 AM on September 4, 2017
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posted by jim in austin at 9:01 PM on September 2, 2017 [3 favorites]