Sanford Biggers (American, b. 1970). Calenda (Big Ass Bang!), 2004. Pure pigment, mirrored disco ball. Courtesy of the artist and Michael Klein Arts, New York
The title of this piece humorously plays on the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe. Footprints outlined on the floor and walls of a corner in the gallery suggest exuberant dance steps that would animate the space. A spinning disco ball placed near the floor heightens the sense of dynamic movement as well as suggesting a celestial explosion. Calenda, a form of martial arts practiced in the Caribbean, had its origins in Africa. It is believed by some to have evolved into a dance performed by enslaved Africans in the antebellum South; the various movements might have been used to send coded messages between dancers without their owners’ knowledge.
Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum
