Throughout human history portals have taken many forms and the parallel realities that they connect are described at length in the myths and spiritual practices of ancient cultures of the world. Modern man’s continued fascination with portals in literature, science fiction, and scientific experiments makes them a part of our common reality. Mexica shamans knew when eclipses were coming and the phenomenon was called Tonatiuh Cualo “when the sun is eaten” by the goddess Tlaltecuhtli.  In ancient times prayers and offerings to Tlaltecuhtli were made as part of ceremonies before battles and for women during pregnancy and difficult childbirths. The path of this Annular Solar Eclipse event on October 14th, 2023 not only bisected the country but Texas as well. We believe this is a cosmic commentary to contemporary events. Co-founded in 2005 by Luis Valderas, the Project:MASA Series is now in its seventh alliteration and continues to unfold. In observance of this particular once in a lifetime Tonatiuh Cualo we’re collaborating in creating a cosmic portal ceremonial performance art film for the Project:MASA 5.5 mission. 

“The Arrival Sequence'' is the first in a series of performance events that are part of the Project:MASA5.5 mission and it occurred during the Annular Solar Eclipse event on October 14th, 2023. The first sequence of the art film includes performances by artists Kim Bishop, Brandy González, Juan C. Escobedo, Anthony ‘The Cosmic Poet’ Flores, Verena Gaudy, Laura Molina, Amalia Ortiz & Canción Canibal Cabarete (Lety RZ, Jacqueline Salame, Lilith Tijerina, Dr. Kip Austin Hinton), Cindy Valderas and Luis Valderas, as well as musician Christopher Garcia. Working with filmmakers Martin C. Rodriguez and Guillermina Zabala, the first sequence was filmed during the October 14th annular eclipse and it began with the activation of the metaphoric transdimensional portal through ceremony and interactive performance of a ritualized beginning from the state of nothingness. The soundtrack of indigenous percussion musical instrumentation by Christopher Garcia and Amalia Ortiz & Canción Cannibal Cabarete provided the soundtrack to tie the chicano futurist ceremony together. 

The mission continues with the activation of the “MASA-Port Authority Naturalization Station —the Sala Diaz Outpost”  which includes an exhibit of the “Portal Arrival Team” and previous cosmic citizens portraits at Sala Diaz during the March-April exhibition slot and additionally on the evening of April 6th 2024 the “MASAporte Naturalization Station—Sala Diaz Outpost”  will be activated for a naturalization event for applicants to gain Cosmic Citizenship at the internationally known Sala Diaz Gallery in San Antonio. We invite the public to prepare their Cosmic Couture for the April 6th MASA:Porte Naturalization Station Event—Cosmic Citizenship requires the wearing of Cosmic Couture by the applicant to the naturalization event. Naturalization applications will also be accepted during March-April, hours TBA.

The final ceremonial performance in the sequence is scheduled to be filmed during the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8th 2024 that will occur at an undisclosed remote location along the Guadalupe River in Texas. A film preview and The Cosmic Couture Portrait Collection Exhibit are scheduled for Summer 2024. Film release is scheduled for Fall 2024. For more information on Project:MASA visit  <https://tinyurl.com/sb9uk5m4>