a field student of cinesthetics

As 'Field Study's Man in E17', I present another blurred and fuzzy highlight in the gripping (I wish) nostalgia of my E17 Art Trail 2011- a visit to the open house of Sarah Nicolls, for a Sunday afternoon of 'cinesthetics'; a fantastic multi-media meld of contemporary, classical, and jazz music, in the packed to capacity venue which was Sarah Nicolls' Ritchings Avenue sitting room. Sarah Nicolls played piano to a film projection. Sarah also performed with her inside out piano. There were also performances by Lucy Russell (on violin) and by jazz duo, Tribunal (on drums and saxophone). If I heard correctly, Sarah Nicolls and her partner were about to move out of the area so alas there may not be another musical intervention with a remade piano on any future E17 Art Trail. 

This post is, in part, another comment on, or observation of, how artists adapted places, physically and otherwise, in order to participate in the E17 Art Trail. In a sense the state of being 'inside-out' is a fitting metaphor for the artist's adaptations.

Sarah Nicolls' E17 Art Trail listing is here, with a picture of the inside out piano and a link to her web site.

A ceiling eye view of Sarah on the 'inside out', courtesy of Mark Burton, can be viewed here

 Sarah Nicolls

Lucy Russell

Tribunal

Lucy Russell played the Chaconne (or Ciaconna) from J S Bach's, Partita No.2 for Solo Violin in D minor. Here are some quick links to just a few of YouTube's library of Ciaconnas; including Isaac Stern, Sigiswald Kuijken, and Arthur Grumiaux. The latter is my favourite. I think Lucy played the piece at quite a fast tempo, though it might sound very different as a recording given the acoustic nature of the venue and event - the space, all the bodies, furnishings, pianos and drums and so on, let alone the particular qualities of the instrument she played.  There was some mention of a recording being made. The performance by Lucy Russell was very visceral, and the same can be said of Sarah Nicolls' performance at her inside out piano. Playing the piano keys with her left hand, she plucked, rubbed and tapped at the exposed strings of the eviscerated upright to create an eerie and plaintive ambience. Jazz dudes, Tribunal, stomped in with a few up beat numbers to lighten the mood, adding a bit of tonic to the gin very hospitably and generously plied at the start.