The siesta went righteous on Sunday afternoon at microcinema/performance art space 14 Pews, where artist-in-residency Emily Sloan directed a group "naptism" in conjunction with the Southern Naptist Convention.

The group's tenants revolve around the acceptance of napping as a valuable activity, as well as a belief in the impending Napture. Slated for Oct. 21, the Napture is based on a prophecy that, as humans increasingly become insomniacs because of societal norms and the evil light bulb, they will suddenly find themselves trapped in an insomniac hell. That unfavorable destiny can be averted thanks to naptisms offered via the Napping Affects Performance organization, a project that facilitates communal naps.

"A lot of my initial interest in napping comes from it being a community practice," Sloan told CultureMap. "Kids nap together in kindergarten, and as adults, a lot of us are collectively sleep-deprived." A self-described night owl and early riser, the artist can attest to the benefits of napping.

In preparation for Sunday's mass naptism, Sloan produced a stirring short film that featured testimony by such prominent local napophiles as 14 Pews director Cressandra Thibodeaux, Mattress Mack, and The Art Guys' Michael Galbreth.

The BYOP (Bring Your Own Pillow) naptism involved an outward professing by 30 guests of the importance of naps, and then a ceremony of being laid to rest and smothered in feathers. The newly naptized member of the Universal Nap Church reemerged with a new lease on life accompanied by healing naps, as well as freedom from napping demonization. In addition, Stanley Merrill of the Jung Center directed a meditation as nappers indulged in milk and cookies.

Sloan's napping advocacy has been in practice for some time, including conducting group nappings at Art League Houston last year, as well as a Nap Church service at Little Woodrows on Bellaire Blvd., where participants participated in custom prayer meditation while resting on cots and wearing sleep masks and ear plugs.

Up next for naptician Sloan is this Saturday's "Fit to Be Tied" event, a meeting of those who relish living life marriage-free. The gleeful anti-matrimony convention includes group discussions, single ceremonies and personal vow writings. A group wedding ceremony will be capped off with a reception featuring cake, wedding photos and dancing.

"All day we're going to be performing weddings. I'm ordained, and it's a free church and free party," Sloan told CultureMap.

For all of the inherent fun in the Napture and "Fit to Be Tied," Sloan's works contain an undercurrent of frustration with societal stigmas surrounding napping and single life. "Maybe a lot of this is about pursuing a unique lifestyle, and living the way that works best for you," she admitted. "Our society sees napping as lazy. It used to be more accepted, but the Industrial Revolution changed that association. It actually increases your productivity."

Sunday's Southern Naptist Convention represented a rare opportunity for nappers to embrace their passion for daylight rest. Likewise, "Fit to Be Tied" offers an opportunity for singles to celebrate their individuality. "Often single people are left out," said Sloane. "This event is for people who are marriage-free, or aren't into marriage at all and think it's outdated." No doubt, the timely topic of same-sex marriage rights will rumble through the vows, as well as the historic association of marriage with female indentured servitude.

"It's technology that's not for everybody," said the artist. The pro-black-sheep sentiment is also apparent in Sloan's Salon des Refusés, an exhibition at Gallery M Squared that will offer white walls for artists to display their work that has been rejected from Lawndale Art Center's The Big Show.

Rooting for the rejected has never looked this good.

"Fit to be Tied" takes at 14 Pews from 1 to 7 p.m. on Saturday. Salon des Refusés opens on July 1, 6:30 to 9 p.m.