Estafiate: Music For Plants

The performance entitled Estafiate: Music For Plants will examine the healing power of native plants & their relationship to our history. The collaborative interpretation set for March 16th seeks to commemorate the natural world. Featuring singers, dancers, musicians, artists, and sound / light technicians from the Teletextile Ritual Arts Ensemble (Teletextile), the performance will include multimedia elements that incorporate and celebrate the natural world.

This particular presentation is very personal to Pamela as it was born out of her love for her grandmother, Sara. The work’s title, Estafiate [es.t̪aˈfja.t̪e], is named for a plant grown in her grandmother’s garden that she used to ease stomach pain during her battle with cancer. When Martinez was called back to San Antonio to care for her, she often wondered about the plant, its origin, & how it was used as an herbal medicine. On a journey to find out more about the plant, she discovered a love for herbalism and a further connection to her grandmother, who would always point out useful herbs growing in her garden as well as wild ones around her Westside neighborhood and the botanicas found throughout the city. This curiosity led Martinez to research the plant, which is known in English as Mexican White Sage, Mexican Sagebrush, or Mugwort, and is known by many for its healing properties to ease stomach issues. This discovery inspired Martinez to create a piece that honors all of the sacred herbs that grow in San Antonio
and the art of herbalism as natural medicine. “This work is an altar to those things we have forgotten, but somehow still flow through our blood, our river, and our roots.” says Martinez of the piece.

Ultimately, Martinez & her team want to encourage spectators to venture into nature & explore the potential therapeutic properties of not only medicinal herbs but also taking the time to truly exist in a natural space. “I want to give people the opportunity to get curious about their natural world again.” Martinez states when asked about the work “the sky, the plants, the smell of the air.” Chris Park was
specifically chosen for its lush and carefully constructed natural landscapes in which there are plenty of opportunities for quiet reflection in addition to several interactive art installations throughout the space. The performance was first planned by Martinez as a Luminaria Artist Foundation Grantee. While she was unable to share the piece during its initial conception due to the pandemic, she is excited to be able to bring the work to life with funding provided by the Department of Arts & Culture of the City of San Antonio
for the public at Ruby City’s Chris Park on Saturday, March 16th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Those wishing to attend the multisensory performance can do so at no cost, but are encouraged to RSVP via Eventbrite.