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A PECULIAR SHADE OF BLUE

A FILMIC STUDY ON THE NATURE OF GRIEF

INTENT + DEEPER DETAIL

This section details the initial intent and focus A PECULIAR SHADE OF BLUE began with in February 2021.

Go to THE STANZAS + PROGRESS for updates and the current status of the project.

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FRAMEWORK + DEVELOPMENT

SEEDING

A PECULIAR SHADE OF BLUE was seeded during lockdown for Covid-19 in May 2020 where I had embarked on an intense process of artistic reflection around my own practice, along with all we, as a species, face at this time. Through this period of exploration, the project was conceived. As it took shape, the choice to continue development was made on the strength of reaction from those sitting as audience, where a common consensus said this felt like necessary and important work.

R + D INTO ACTUALISATION

Following a progressive journey over the period of a year, A PECULIAR SHADE OF BLUE entered a deep cycle of research and development in February 2022, to release film-shares as work-in-progress for CAST (Cornubian Arts + Science Trust), UK in March 2022 and SCENSTUIDION GERLESBORG, SWEDEN in September 2022

 

The project is currently moving through actualisation and aims for release in October 2023, to screen in partnership with FABRICA, Brighton, UK as part of their on going programme around death and dying - 'INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT'.

 

AUDIENCE INCLUSION

Audience inclusion has always played a vital role in the development and delivery of any body of work within Spiderflower. During the making of A PECULIAR SHADE OF BLUE, a small audience travelled inside the project via MEMBERSHIP, which offered an experiential journey with the project. The piece is inherently interactive when in action, so continues to pay great attention to the depth of audience experience and engagement. 

FRAMEWORK + DEVELOPMENT
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DEEP TIME + SLOW CINEMA

THE CREATIVE PROCESS

THE PERFORMANCE PROCESS

Follows as it unfolds. It is vital to understand the work does not follow a script, but is set within a loose framework.  As an artist, I have no knowing, and it is important I do not know, what will emerge. Choreography is drawn directly through and out of direct dialogue between human and earth. In time, a story will form, and it is likely to be one not seen before. This is the entire point of this work. It is an act of translation. During this phase poetics are written, the spoken word becomes another form of translation.  It is a long, patient process.

 

FILMING 

In the most practical sense, the performance process means as performer, I spend hours on the landThe most effective way to film is on a single camera, through a still frame and solo. The attention of the performer has to be sustained in a complete and unwavering way for long periods of time. Camera crew are brought in for detail at a later stage. In this way, the entire creation of A PECULIAR SHADE OF BLUE is designed to be Covid-proof, as lockdowns will not effect progress and production continues - come what may. 

DEEP TIME + SLOW CINEMA

DEEP TIME

If we are to truly observe, in fine detail, the nuanced relationship between human and earth, and within that - how the passage of grief unfolds in an unobstructed way - it is necessary to find a way to travel our audience into those worlds. Deep time is the passage of time that lives outside of ordinary human awareness. We come away from the frenetic tempo of daily life, to immerse ourselves in the long, slow rhythms of geological time, and in doing so, open out an entirely unique perspective. Allowing ourselves to enter deep time, allows us to step inside and experience this world, and yet - it is still our world. Here we bear witness to the human form in this context, and in turn - it evokes the question - who and what are we really? What might we see in the reflections given? 

SLOW CINEMA

As we travel through deep time, we, as humans, must adapt to follow its rhythms. Watching through the lens of SLOW CINEMA gives to this process. To stay close, we need to drop out of fast moving cinema - and simply watch through the steady and patient gaze of a still frame. Slow cinema sees in a different way. Simple and uncluttered, it heightens detail inside natural dialogue which we might ordinarily miss, speaking to us through us a language that is innate.

CREATIVE PROCESS
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DELIVERY

DELIVERY

RELEASE

Focus has fallen intensively on film-making, while both elements of Book of Poems and Centre for Earth-Engaged Performance Research are natural by-products and their creation weave easily within research & development (R&D). All elements are due to release to a wider audience when final production completes in October 2023 to screen in partnership with FABRICA, Brighton, UK as part of their on going programme around death and dying - 'INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT'.

BOOK OF POEMS

A PECULIAR SHADE OF BLUE is made rich with layers of poetry and the spoken word. At the end of final production, poetics, imagery from the films, art and selected diary entries will be made available in book form.

 

RESEARCH + CEEPR

Findings and research from A PECULIAR SHADE OF BLUE will transfer over to Spiderflower's CENTRE FOR EARTH-ENGAGED PERFORMANCE RESEARCH (CEEPR) as an online, educational resource.

 

OUTREACH + COURSES 

Specially developed courses will accompany the release of A PECULIAR SHADE OF BLUE, to be made available to actors, creatives and open sessions. 

 

LIVE INTER-DISCIPLINARY PERFORMANCE

Takes us into a new cycle of development and delivery.  Spiderflower always prefers to keep the work as live, and hopes to progress A PECULIAR SHADE OF BLUE on to live inter-disciplinary performance at a later stage.

Produced by :  Spiderflower - Earth-Engaged Performance Research

Writing, Direction + Performance : Rowan Jacqueline

Performance for Snot (Stanza 3) + Sea (Stanza 4) : Nooshka Storm

Creative Facilitation : Willa Harlatt + Rob Purday

Lead Camera : Rowan Jacqueline

Camera for Detail : Henry McGrath

High Speed Macro - 'Moths in Flight' - Threshold (Stanza 2) :  Linden Gledhill

Early Development:  Henry McGrath + The Solo School

Music : Rob Purday

Critique Circle:  Maddy Morton, Bernadette Kearns + Sandra Falkeborn

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SUPPORTED BY:

THE OPPENHEIM-JOHN DOWNES MEMORIAL TRUST

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