I find myself in an ample and propitious performance space. I am producing a performance art event—with two phases. One phase I participate in, the other phase is completely created by another performer—a tall man. I know him, distinctly, as a tall man. Time comes, and the decision must be made as to which phase will play first. The sense is clear enough to me that his performance should come second, although I don’t know what it is he is going to do.

I, myself, do not perform alone but with a female companion. We perform complex movement, mostly spontaneous, involving a set and prop elements—frames, panels, canvases, scarves. We work with bright colors. We also perform completely naked. I am aware that I have nothing to redeem my nakedness, that, from my standpoint, there is nothing interesting in being naked. But this aspect is not merely humiliating to me—but rather passionate, required by the character of the work. My partner also performs naked, but again, the deeper symbolism here is our mutual vulnerability, our complete commitment to the nexus of our work.

Then the tall man performs—I have zero images.

The first presentation is done.

As a second audience gathers, the tall man is resting off to the side. I approach him. Without being heavily built, he has a substantial presence. I am aware of how thoroughly he is livingin his flesh, generating a very powerful aura through and through. My deepest feeling with him is trust—in his adeptness in all dimensions of the work. He is fully attuned with what this is all about.

He is in reverie, when, in efficiency mode, I raise the question again,

Do you feel that you should perform first, or shall my partner and I perform first?

He does not and need not speak. It is transparent between us that, as before, my partner and I will be first, then he will carry forth the energies that be as they will become.