The Gifts Bookshop Tour
Performance Music Poetry
Gifts
Much Ado Books
2 December 2017, 2-3pm
8 West St, Alfriston, East Sussex BN26 5UX www.muchadobooks.com A performance made for bookshops. Artists Clare Whistler and violinist Joanna Lawrence present an event of eight gifts – an hour of music, spoken word, readings, and poetry. Bach, Biber, Syrian folksong and specially commissioned pieces.
Gifts
Eight gifts given for a journey through life
Clare Whistler
The Gifts Bookshop Tour takes its inspiration from GIFTS, a ten year project by Clare Whistler of eight objects traditionally given to welcome a new child into the world. Gifts of good luck: Egg for life, Coal for heat, Evergreen for eternity, Salt for health, Candle for light, Bread for food, Coin for wealth and a Silver Ring for love throughout life. www.clarewhistlergifts.co.uk
Clare Whistler
Joanna Lawrence
Clare has had a 35 year career as a dancer, choreographer and director including 15 years working in opera and community projects.
Jo’s musical passion lies within both early and contemporary music. Her fascination with historical performance has led her to play with most London period bands. She is a member of Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Academy of Ancient Music and has toured worldwide and recording extensively. She is violinist with L’Aventura London, who have made a recently acclaimed recording of 17th century Portuguese Love Songs. She spent five years playing with Les Arts Florissants and Bill Christie in Paris. She recently formed a duo with clarinettist Katherine Spencer, using electronics to play their own compositions at the Whitechapel Art Gallery and as part of ‘Response to Syria’ installation in Hampstead. She works with David Gordon, jazz pianist and harpsichordist, in 21st Century Baroque, when two worlds of old and new meet.
Her work breaks down the boundaries between art disciplines and hopes to offer insight, feeling and moments of timeless beauty whether in performance, text, music, site-specific work, visual art and landscape. With a source in movement and gesture, Clare responds, interprets and collaborates with people, places and the elemental. Gifts, the book and a film by Nichola Bruce were presented at 7th Whitstable Biennial, Art In Romney Churches, Battle Festival and exhibited during UTOPIAS at Somerset House London winter 2016.
Gifts Much Ado Books
2 December 2017, 2-3pm 8 West St, Alfriston, East Sussex BN26 5UX www.muchadobooks.com www.clarewhistlergifts.co.uk