BRIDGING WITH MOTHER at The VORTEX

Bridging with Mother is an artistic call to “conjoin,” to “merge,” or to “become one with nature.” Experience live music, classical Indian dance, multimedia art, acting, and stage design created by Tyagaraja Welch and directed by his partner Gunjen Mittal. Bridging with Mother is the culmination of classical Indian art forms and permaculture theory, inspired by the Sanskrit term for yoga. It is a production of Welch’s original music, the first release since the pre-pandemic production of VIVEKA, by Welch’s assemblage Light Wheel.

Tyaga Welch offers these words on the project:

“What are we, and where did we come from? When one comes to a mighty waterfall, or stands at the edge of the world along a vast coastal ocean, or bathes in a sacred river, what is the first organic response? When this question is presented in our Yogic Workshops, ninety percent of the participants answer with not a word; they answer with a sound: ‘Aaaahhh.’ This ‘ah’ sound of relief has the hidden answer to all human dilemma. If we are mindful and connected with experiencing our present moment, the ‘aaaahhh’ sound is an ‘aha’ moment, the moment of awakening. The deeper one goes into the topic, the more questions arise. What is the ‘aha’ moment? Spirituality, in its purest sense, is remembrance. The reason why your faith or individual spirituality feels so right, pure, and true to you is because it feels familiar––something you always thought and couldn’t quite put your finger on––like the moment when your hand opens the door to your own house. You feel at peace, safe, and familiar with the surroundings.”

“It’s in times like these that shows like Bridging with Mother are so important to produce because art can promote a paradigm shift towards compassion and action. If you attend the live show at The VORTEX, you will be moved,” says Gunjen Mittal, Director of Bridging with Mother.

Bridging with Mother will be a show for everyone. With the additions of Gunjen Mittal, Welch’s eight-year-old daughter, and elders as advisors, the show’s collaborators span an age range of seventy years. It is an opportunity for the Austin community to support the production of heritage art and live music.