I am very happy to announce that production is presently underway on a large-scale interdisciplinary, community-activated, art piece/installation featuring music, film and live performance. This piece, with the working title of MOMENTS (French for memories), is a collaboration between myself, video artist, Gunilla Josephson and Thin Edge New Music Collective.
MOMENTS can be described as more of an exhibition than an event, more of a transformation of time and space than a concert, more of a unifying experience than an installation. This larger-than-life immersive sensory experience utilizes music, video imagery and human presence as the stage for the unveiling of our memories from childhood.
It will be presented with original instrumental music, live musicians, designed soundscape and moving image, all synchronized in real time.
The first phase of production will see the members of Thin Edge filmed improvising musical fragments and talking about memories of childhood that have influenced their lives.
Then, Gunilla will edit together the interviews and additional footage into a 4-part film. Following her work, I will compose a soundtrack featuring a score combining live instrumentation with a fixed electronics part, including excerpts from some of the improvised elements.
The final step in the process will be to present the work live in performance where musicians play along with the film. Rather than in a traditional concert setting, this will be presented in a large open-space art gallery, like a live art showing or installation…performance art. The musicians will be in the middle of the room playing along with Gunilla’s film that will be projected around the room on different walls/surfaces. The audience will be free to walk about, stand, sit or lie down in any part of the outside circumference of the room.
As we see the films of other people recounting their memories, our own memories are evoked and we understand the commonality of human experiences and are transported into an atmosphere that offers release and liberation from memories that subconsciously continually loop in our minds.
All the steps described above will take 12-15 months to produce and will result in a complete 1-hour presentation. The goal is to then find partners to produce a 12-hour version of the work involving more interviews with more musicians.
For now, we’re all focussed on the creation of the best 1-hour version of MOMENTS we can produce. This would definitely not be possible without the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council.
Stay tuned to my social media channels, my blog posts and my e-newsletter for updates on our progress. This is going to be a great experience!
