slippages - World Premiere
Performance by the UBC Symphony Orchestra at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts - Vancouver, BC
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Graphic scores are not commonly included in regular Symphony Orchestra programs, nor are the works of non-musician visual artists: this work will be used to bridge disciplines, and introduce both the musicians and a public audience to the potential of visually & aurally integrated works of art.
The opportunity to work with the UBC Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Jonathan Girard arose from a Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies (PWIAS) workshop, Integrating Artistic Practice with Research across the University, at which I was invited to present during my residency there in the fall of 2017. slippages is a synthesis of material from researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) regarding the physical, anthropological, and philosophical properties of glaciers. In collaboration with Maestro Girard (Wall Scholar for 2018-2019), I worked with the 110-member orchestra to present a structured improvisational sonic piece and produce a complementary video work with Edmonton-based artist Sydney Lancaster. This video is intended to be viewed from above the orchestra and will be presented to the audience as part of the performance. A painting-based installation, The Past Sealed Away: Athabasca Glacier, was presented in the Chan Centre atrium; a 203 c, x 305 cm macro view of glacial ice. |
Photo - John William
Ice contains no future, just the past, sealed away. As if they're alive, everything in the world is sealed up inside, clear and distinct. Ice can preserve all kinds of things that way- cleanly, clearly. That's the essence of ice, the role it plays. |
There was a brief introductory talk in advance of the public presentation of Slippages, in which the work was “unpacked” by Maestro Girard and myself. Both the creation of graphic scores and the practice of structured improvisation will be briefly explained.
The evening’s program was live-streamed in HD 360 Degrees and made available for later viewing online, and there were“viewing parties” planned in a number of cities at centres across Canada, US, UK, Australia and Germany.
The performance is available to view here (much thanks to Maestro Jonathan Girard for this).
The evening’s program was live-streamed in HD 360 Degrees and made available for later viewing online, and there were“viewing parties” planned in a number of cities at centres across Canada, US, UK, Australia and Germany.
The performance is available to view here (much thanks to Maestro Jonathan Girard for this).
The Past Sealed Away: Athabasca Glacier, acrylic on birch panel, 203 cm x 305 cm, 2018
I would like to acknowledge the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies in supporting this project.
