(De)monstro: A Participatory Ritual by CRASIS
(De)monstro is an interactive art ritual by CRASIS, the collaborative duo of Andy P. Davis and Anne Lukins. Combining spoken word, live music, puppet theater, and sacred clowning, the performance approaches destruction as a necessary part of renewal through a queer, eco-feminist perspective. Audience members help shape the ritual by making sounds with handmade devices and offering the monsters “chunks of reality” to be transformed and destroyed.
The visual world of the work is built from foraged plant and fungal matter, salvaged textiles, wood, metal, and papier-mâché. CRASIS’s participatory performances draw on personal stories, the material environment, and ancient and contemporary cultures to explore an evolving mythical cosmology centered on human ecology. The duo includes Davis and Lukins, who have held residencies at the Galveston Artist Residency and Stoveworks and have presented work in the United States and internationally.
When: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Schedule: The galleries are open for a special pre-show visit from 5–6 PM. The performance runs from 6–6:45 PM, followed by a post-show Q&A from 6:45–7 PM.
Tickets: Price not available
Registration: Advance registration is strongly recommended. Capacity is limited to approximately 50 guests because of the intimate gallery setting.
Lineup: CRASIS, consisting of Andy P. Davis and Anne Lukins
Format: Participatory performance incorporating spoken word, music, puppetry, sacred clowning, handmade sound-making devices, and audience interaction
Run time: 35 minutes, followed by a 15-minute Q&A
Q&A: The discussion is led by Blair Murphy, MoCA Arlington’s Senior Curator and Director of Exhibitions.
Venue: Tiffany Gallery, Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington
Address: 3550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201
Parking: Free on-site parking is available in the museum lot.
Transit: The museum is accessible from the Virginia Square-GMU Metro station on the Orange and Silver lines. Metrobus A76 and ART Line 41 also serve the area.
Accessibility: The galleries and parking facilities are fully ADA accessible. Guests needing specific seating accommodations should contact museum staff in advance.