frequently asked questions
Is ceremonied art an art form or an organization?
Both. The art form is ceremonied art, and the organization is called Ceremonied Art.
Where does the word "ceremonied" come from?
Maybe surprisingly, although the adjective "ceremonied" sounds like a common English word, it did not exist in any dictionary or appear anywhere online until artist/writer Tilke Elkins coined the term in September, 2023. The verb "to ceremony" was in use until 1635, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. Tilke reactivates "to ceremony" and redefines it to mean "to engage ceremony to bring into, or enact within networks of relational kinship & care, between humans & beings of all kinds."
Is ceremonied art religious?
No. Ceremonied art is art that orients according to the worldview that all life, from the tiniest molecule to the largest cosmic body, is family, or kin to humans, has agency and is capable of communication with humans. This is known as a "kincentric worldview," and can be compared to the "humancentric worldview", which does not consider all elements of life to be family, have agency, or be capable of communication. A worldview is different from a religious belief.
Is ceremonied art culturally appropriative?
Ceremonied Art recognizes the sensitivity of supporting artists to engage ceremony to affirm all life as family — especially artists with predominantly humancentric heritages. Currently existing traditionally kincentric (Indigenous, Aboriginal, Native) populations are fighting to maintain and build their heritage and traditions, which center ceremonies that affirm kincentricity. To imitate these ceremonial practices in any way in the name of ceremonied art would violate and contradict what defines ceremonied art as such: the honoring and caring for all life – including all humans – as family. To disrespect another human or human group by stealing their cultural practices is not an act of honor and care. Ceremonied artists prioritize care and respect for all life, including all people.
Cultural appropriation is the imitation or use of cultural elements – like distinct language, music, mannerisms, styles of dress, symbols, rituals, designs and traditions – that are the defining aspects of a particular group of people and their heritage. Ceremony is a universal human experience that all humans engage in, in a wide variety of ways. Specific elements of ceremony belong to specific people and groups, and their use by people outside that group (especially, but not limited to circumstances where those elements are being used for financial gain) can cause those elements to become severed from their original meaning and context.
People outside a given culture who are expressly invited in to participate in cultural expressions within a network of relationships in that group are likely not engaging in cultural appropriation.
What is intuitive communication and how is it part of ceremonied art?
Intuitive communication is also known as "telepathy." It's the transfer of messages between beings through inner knowing, without spoken, written or recorded language of any kind, often transmitted and received instantly regardless of distance between individuals. Intuitive communication can take place between beings of all kinds, from the molecular to the cosmic.
Humancentric cultures have suppressed the practice of intuitive communication – between humans, and between humans and plants, animals, rocks, stars, ancestors and other "inter-beings" – for thousands of years. Means of suppression have included mass brutality and violence and the assertion that believing that inter-being communication is possible is an active sign of mental illness.
Intuitive communication functions best between individuals who experience closeness and love. Where love, or a sense of kinship is absent, intuitive communication is much less likely to occur. Where intuitive communication is absent, feelings of kinship are less likely to arise.
Honing the collective human intuitive capacity through ceremonied art could, therefore, could serve to dramatically increase humanity's ability to connect with, listen to, and collaborate with other beings.
Does all ceremonied art involve intuitive communication/telepathy?
No, not necessarily. Ceremonied art is defined by the use of ceremony to affirm kinship with all life. This can, but does not have to include intuitive messaging between beings.
Who decides what is, and isn't ceremonied art?
Like any word, the word "ceremonied" can be used correctly or incorrectly. Artists claiming to work in ceremonied ways may or may not actually be doing so -- but that is up to each person to discern independently. Any one can make art that is ceremonied -- many people, all over the world, are and have always been making work that could be called "ceremonied."
Can art of any kind be ceremonied art? What about things other than art?
Ceremonied art is art of any form: objects (painting, sculpture), dance, music, film, multimedia, interdisciplinary, etc. Non-art practices — like farming, birth, healing, or other things — can also be ceremonied.
How can I participate in Ceremonied Art, the organization?
Please get in touch if:
you're an artist making ceremonied artwork and you'd like to connect with an audience through this organization
you're an artist, art supporter or art participant, and you'd like to fund, experience, or learn more about how to engage ceremonied art
Write to us at: connect@ceremonied.org
