Have been pondering many (often divergent) ideas over the holidays.
It’s been part of the process of getting back “into it” after the time away – thinking about what directions do I want to take in my practice over the next while for sure, and getting myself sorted for the commitments I already have (more on that soon!) – but this pondering has also been about ideas of growth and change on a broader level.
What I want to help manifest in the world.
What the world can teach us about how to manifest beauty of all sorts on an ongoing basis, if we but pay attention. See, rather than merely look.
So it wasn’t entirely surprising that I came across the video below. Remarkable work, and much fuel for thought here. Enjoy – and best of this New Year to you.
After working this summer in Parrsboro with Scott Smallwood on a project
that explores the interconnections between the tide, the land, and the human history of the area (which included shipbuilding), these beautiful structures speak volumes to me – about change, and resilience, and different ways of looking at the idea of abundance.
I am also a total sucker for the ways in which these boat-houses help to retain the many generations of work and relationship to the sea in these coastal places.
My thanks to eMorphes for bringing these structures to our collective attention!
As summer slips into Autumn, I am reminded that beauty lies in the moment, and in those details that provoke a little wonder. My thanks to eMorphes for the shot of colour on a grey Monday.
The days have been flying past, and I find myself here, on the eve of our exhibition opening in Parrsboro!
I am looking forward to sharing the work Scott and I have been developing over the course of this residency, and interested in hearing feedback about it.
For those in the area of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, details are:
Saturday August 12, 2017
4:00 – 8:00 pm
Opening Reception
at
Main & Station, 2nd Floor Gallery
168 Main Street, Parrsboro
Artists will be in attendance.
Looking forward to seeing those of you that can make it!
For those farther afield:
I’ll be posting images from the Opening and some documentation of the show here in the next few days.
We had a marvellous time on Sunday, presenting “Macromareal Prelude: In Fog and Storm and Rain” !
Everything fell into place so beautifully – we had planned to present at the beach, but the forecast pre-empted that idea – but Plan B turned out to be so great! No regrets there!
Deep thanks to all the musicians for a fantastic performance, and for being willing to adapt as needed on short notice. Thanks also to Ottawa House for lending us the beautiful ship’s bell from their artifact collection for this event. Special shout out to Randy Corcoran for the tremendous support, and donation of the buoys for my performative part in the day’s proceedings!
The Nonesuch Centre for the Performing Arts has really good acoustics, and lovely nooks and crannies to hide musicians … and Scott did a terrific job of adapting the work to the space. We were able to get a really nice recording of the performance, and some great photos and video. Scott even played the pipe organ!
Monday we were into full-on exhibition install mode … and while it was a hard working day, we got a great deal accomplished! Almost ready (already!) for the exhibition opening this Saturday (August 12) … more to follow on that very soon.
In the mean time, you can have a listen to the rehearsal of “Macromareal Prelude: In Fog and Storm and Sunshine”(on First Beach, Saturday August 5) here:
And the performance (at the Nonesuch Centre, Sunday August 6) here:
Had a great evening at the Evidence performance on July 27!
It was a real treat to hear Stephan and Scott again, and especially so since this was the first-ever in the new Nonesuch Centre for the Performing Arts.
Harvey Lev does Pre-concert Introductions, and Stephan & Scott offer a bit of explanation regarding what the audience is about to hear
It became readily apparent that these two musicians have worked together for some time – but I didn’t realize how long it’s been until that night. 17 years! A real testament to their friendship, and the way their respective practices as sound artists and composers complement one another.
I found it interesting too that the each use completely different software for working with the field recordings they use in live performance. As Stephan pointed out to me after the concert, they think differently, and so they’re each designed their workspaces/software in the way that best suits each of them. Made perfect sense, but for some reason it hadn’t occurred to me … and are what they did together even more remarkable somehow, for the seamlessness and symbiosis between them in performance.
Some of the crowd that nightThe performance underway – Stephan encouraged the audience to look around or close their eyes, because as he put it, he and Scott “were going to look like they were reading disturbing emails for most of the concert”
I also (despite Stephan’s advice to the contrary) found myself watching the two of them as much as I spent time with my eyes closed, immersed in the soundscape they were creating. Their concentration, and the deep attentiveness they paid to one another and to the improvisational work that developed between them was a fantastic lesson in presence, and in how much we ‘forget to hear’ or simply ‘tune out’ in daily living. Admittedly, often with good reason – there’s not a little white noise to filter just to stay sane these days! But nonetheless – we also miss many amazing little moments through inattention.
And after the concert, there was a happy and unexpected bonus: a great post-performance Q&A session with the audience! Lovely to hear the feedback from several in attendance – there were many insightful, thoughtful questions and comments, which I’m sure was rewarding for Stephan and Scott. Always nice to know that your work has provoked thought and generated interesting connections and ideas for people!
A great night overall, and in a really beautiful space.
Just sorry that Stephan had to leave us to go back to Chicago so soon. I’m hoping he’ll be back sooner rather than later!
She was in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick on a short visiting-friends-and-seeing-new-things holiday, and fortuitously, it worked out that she could come to Parrsboro for a couple of days.
Lobster Roll at the Harbourview Restaurant in Parrsboro!
We started at Partridge Island and the beach below Ottawa House, and then headed out to First Beach for some lunch and to see the Bay at high tide for the day (something I hadn’t seen at this location, despite all my trips out here!).
We had a blast touring around beaches and going on foraging adventures, talking art and life, and generally enjoying this magnificent locale.
Then we were off again to the beach a Diligent River, which is stunningly beautiful – but required patience, because the tide wasn’t exactly in our favour. It took some roaming and squishing through red Fundy mud to finally get across to the gravel spit to forage for goodies. Didn’t get much, but it was worth it many times over in any case; the view is a special thing.
Such a treat, in so many ways – it’s always nice when work and not-work come together with friends, and it becomes an opportunity to accomplish things AND just hang out!
