KNOWN MASS NO. 3, “ST. MAURICE” is a consideration–and re-creation–of St. Maurice Church in the Lower Ninth Ward, which was the spiritual home and community hub for Known Mass director Ann Glaviano’s family in Arabi, Louisiana. After Katrina, the Archdiocese of New Orleans determined that the St. Maurice Church community was not worth the cost of repairing the church building. The building, of course, had been constructed and maintained through the efforts and funds of the parishioners. The Archdiocese shuttered and sold the church.

Ten women will reconstruct St. Maurice Church in Art Klub–marking, occupying, and activating, with their bodies and their memories, key sites of physical objects and personal narratives. Dancers include Rebecca Allen, Emily Apple, Katya Chizayeva, Lori Maxwell Crosthwait, Ann Glaviano (director), Rhia Jade, Reese Johanson, Amanda Kostreva, and Catherine Nelson. The audience is invited to tour the church while musician and New Orleans native Melissa Guion (MJ Guider) performs a Mass. When the dance is over, the church will disappear.

Performances at Art Klub, 2pm and 8pm, February 17, 2018. 

Tickets $15 general admission, $12 students and artists, NOTAFLOF.

Shown in pairing with “Light Moving Through Time,” a collaboration between Meryl Murman and Nick Shamblott.

Known Mass was in residency at Art Klub November 2017-February 2018 as part of Prospect.4, “The Aesthetics of Garbage,” curated by Meryl Murman.

Melissa self-released the music for this show digitally and on cassette in June 2021, garnering a feature from Bandcamp as Album of the Day.