For Immediate Release
May 2, 2003

Multimedia artist James Luna, a resident of California’s La Jolla Reservation, will perform The Sun and the Moon Blues on Friday, May 9 at the Margaret Greenham Theatre. In this piece he will combine satire, pop culture, and irony to address the serious social issues affecting North American First Nations people.

Luna presents visual stories about reservation culture, parodies the misuse and disrespectful sale of Indian spiritual ways and objects, and challenges the romanticized "noble savage" stereotype. He has received wide acclaim for his deconstruction of stereotypes and notions of ‘Indian’ identity. He defines his work as, "a theatre set without actors, the theme told in front of found objects, enhanced by lighting, audio, video, and other electronic media." He uses these elements as a background for his profound performances and describes his presentations as "higtechpostmodernsurrealistic subculture evenings of demented Indian Humour".

Luna has a B.A. in Fine Arts from the University of California at Irvine, and a M.Sc. in Counselling from San Diego State University. He began his studies in painting, but it was when he discovered performance that his practice took shape. His work has conceptual overtones, and he strives for minimal means in his multi-media and video installations. Luna is in wide demand as a guest speaker and panelist. In 1991, he was the recipient of the Bessie Creator Award of the New York Dance and Theatre Workshop. 

This performance of The Sun and the Moon Blues is a presentation by the Creative Residencies Program at The Banff Centre. Tickets are $22 each. For information or to buy your tickets contact The Banff Centre Box Office at 1.800.413.8368 or 403.762.6301 or E-mail

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