WEDDING GIFT: "MARIA'S ROUND STONE"

"Sunday, October 2, 2005 was the
last day of the summer weather (about
82 degrees). When I was leaving the site
that afternoon, I saw a lady struggling
up the embankment coming to see me. I
ran over to help her and half yelling she
said "oh, it's you, it's you, I have a gift
for you..." and proceeded to give me a
perfect smooth round stone (like the
stone in the 'mariner's heart' image).

This 102 years-old woman made a
gesture of love and connection to this
site which I will never forget. It was
her second visit to the Remic Rapids.
Last summer I saw her for the first time
when she came to the site, sat down in
silence, and watched me worked with
the rocks and the river.

This acknowledgement represents not
only my response to her gesture of care
and love for the place but I hope it
reflects in a wider context, all the
connections made through the dance and
the sculptures, the place, the people at
the site, the ducks and geese, the water
and the sky, the silence of the dance
with the sound of the rapids in the
distance...ALL connected so that
"everything fits together".

Maria, I thank you for your gift"

John F. Ceprano

THE WEDDING DANCE and THE
MARINER'S WEDDING/05
On-Line Installation/Dance Performance
by artist John F. Ceprano and Claire
Elizabeth Barratt/05
Remic Rapids, Ottawa, Canada