Cupar Arts Eden started last Saturday and finished today, showcasing a hotbed of talent throughout Fife with a relaxed and friendly vibe.
The last month has been intense as Bernard threw himself into rehearsals, but this week leading towards Friday ramped things up to an entirely new level. Cables got plugged in and came out again, new modules were soldered up and fitted into the rack, endless sound-checks, resampling the samples, designing new sounds and composing. Mysterious little packets from Thonk arrived in the post almost daily. On Tuesday he stayed up all night (and still had normal energy the next day) and put in 36 hours on the trot. I could never do that.
On Thursday the machine had to be dismantled and packed up for transport to the Corn Exchange in Cupar, where exhibitions and events took place all week. Every cable was carefully labelled, stripped out, and boxed. The image top left shows it in all its innocence, devoid of cables. It all travelled to Cupar where it was reassembled ready for action, image top right showing the devil in the detail. Needless to say B gave a magnificent performance, his music was exciting and inspiring; I took the photo lower left of him in full flow performing live.
All the performances, talks and interviews took place on an amazing sculpture/stage encompassing a sonic chamber designed and built by Mark Small and Carl Smyth. Panels of painterly back-lit stained glass by Matk studded the white forms like jewels. The hall was lined with art works by Celie Byrne, Phillip Jupitus, and a special chamber was devoted to a modern take on the Bayeux Tapestry by Wulfgard the Bard, aka Mike Middleton. Performances by Celie's trio of amazing ladies clad in bright yellow chemical suits took place randomly in a most surreal fashion.
B played back the recording he made of his performance yesterday, the image lower left shows what the recording looks like on the computer - I always think the sound waves look like Ikat weaving, very beautiful. After a few days' absence from its normal place in the house, reinstating it was like welcoming back a member of the family.
Links to websites and social media:
Cupar Arts
Celie Byrne Fine Art
Phillip Jupitus
Mark Small
Carl Smyth
Wulfgard the Bard
Bernard M (Painting) links to music to be announced
Thonk Modular Synthesiser and DIY Kits
Publication:
The National: Trumped-up Medieval Tapestry
Thanks for visiting, see you next week!