They Invaded by Sea, We Responded with Fire. An Omen | Invadieron por mar, respondemos con fuego. Un presagio.
When:
Friday, Sep 12, 2025 12:00a -
9:00p
Friday, Sep 12, 2025 12:00a -
9:00p
Where:
City Hall Plaza
City Hall Plaza
City Hall Square Boston, MA 02203
Admission:
FREE
Categories:
Art, History, Kid Friendly
Event website:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/invadieron-por-mar-respondemos-con-fuego-un-presagio-tickets-1629067688309
They Invaded by Sea, We Responded with Fire. An Omen (Invadieron por mar, respondemos con fuego. Un presagio) is the culminating performance of artist Adela Goldbard’s large-scale time-based artwork. At its center is a quarter-scale replica of a 17th-century sailing ship, used here as both sculpture and stage for a fictionalized first encounter between Indigenous people and European colonists.
The evening unfolds as a three-part pyrotechnic performance, accompanied by live Brazilian drumming. It begins with a somber battle, transitions into a festive traditional Mexican Castillo pyrotechnic display, and concludes with the theatrical destruction of the ship. Through ritual and spectacle, the work confronts the violent legacy of colonization while honoring the resilience of Native communities across Massachusetts and the Americas.
The free outdoor performance takes place Friday, September 12, 2025, from 7 to 9 pm at City Hall Plaza in Boston. The event is rain or shine and open to the public; seating is not provided, though attendees are welcome to bring their own. Please note that pyrotechnics, loud noises, and strobe lighting are part of the performance and may not be suitable for all audiences.
