People of the Sun / Gente del Sol

A Review

The People of the Sun is an emerging performance group made up of some very talented people credited with Albuquerque Fame.

The group, a threesome at its core, consists of Jessica Helen Lopez, former ABQ Poet Laurette, a nationally recognized published author with West End Press and Swimming with Elephants Publications, Manuel Gonzalez, current ABQ Poet Laurette and youth advocate, also published by Swimming with Elephants Publications, and Glenn “Buddha” Benavidez, of Reviva and Stoic Frame fame who also performs solo as DJ Buddhafunk. With a core group of that quality, this newly formed performance group holds high promise as a potential powerhouse.

On December 17^th, the People of the Sun played their third show at the Draft Station in Albuquerque New Mexico. The venue offered a comfortable environment, good beer, and friendly enthusiastic patrons.

Opening with a meditative Chakra jam session and closing with a similar jam, the sandwich material was engaging, entertaining, varied, and compelling. Well received spoken word performances by Lopez and Gonzalez mixed with the professional beats of Benavidez created a show that is unique and inimitable.

Because the group strives to represent community, other local poets were invited to perform with the group throughout the evening. Local poets, including Gina Marselle, Katrina K Guarascio, and Bill Nevins, fellow Reviva menstrual, Jerel Garcia, and local artist John Barney, who had a table in the corner where he created magnificent artistic renderings of the performances (represented in this review) throughout the evening, all contributed to the eclectic festivities of the evening.

The show ran roughly three hours with a couple of breaks for conversation and collaboration creating an incredible comfortable and open environment.

Find People of the Sun – Performance Art Collective on Facebook for more information and keep your eye open for future shows featuring this group in and around Albuquerque.