Midsummer Nights Fire

Dei Xhrist in "While These Visions" solstice 2019

Cilla Vee Life Arts and Two Diamond Art Farm:

CALL FOR ARTISTS

Seeking DANCERS and other performing artists for:

“MIDSUMMER NIGHTS FIRE”

The 2^nd annual summer solstice revelry with the sculptures of Patrick Pierce

on Two Diamond Art Farm, Saco ME

to be held on Saturday June 20^th 2020

Create work inspired by this unique sculptural environment and the theme of myths, legends and traditions of the Nordic Midsummer.

Proposals due by April 15^th.

For details – read on ….

Esme Goldfinger in "While These Visions" solstice 2019

Joie Grandbois in "While These Visions" solstice 2019

LAST YEAR 2019

This is the second year of summer solstice dance-with-sculptures.

Last year’s theme was Midsummer Nights Dream “While These Visions … did appear”

Each dancer chose one sculpture to interact with and create a piece for.

Then the audience traveled from one to the other.

Gathering the audience to begin "While These Visions" solstice 2019

THIS YEAR 2020

For summer solstice 2020 the approach will be a little different.

Patrick will group a number of sculptures together to create a sculptural installation – a condensed environment. This will be the main stage area.

Performers can chose how they wish to interact with this sculptural environment.

It is open to solos, groups, collaborations – including dance, music, poetry, performance art.

PROPOSAL

Please send:

1) Bio or Resume

2) Video sample of your work (YouTube or Vimeo link)

3) Your ideas for a piece for Midsummer Nights Fire – including your approach to working in response to the sculpture, with the theme of the Norse Midsummer – and how you want to structure the piece, whether it’s a solo, duo, group, collaboration etc.

You can arrange site visits with Patrick as needed.

PLEASE EMAIL YOUR PROPSAL TO:

Claire Elizabeth Barratt – cillavee@gmail.com

NORDIC MIDSUMMER

Here is a little information to begin your research …

The solstice festival is also known as LITHA.

FIRE

Fire as a living entity.

Sunna (or Sol) – the Sun Goddess. Depicted riding horses of fire and chased across the sky by a huge wolf.

(Mani is her brother moon – also chased by a wolf)

Sunna brings warmth and brightness. Even through the long, dark winters, Sunna remains in people’s hearts, minds and prayers – as hope to keep going through the winter.

Bonfires.

Many fires are lit – large and small.

People even jump through the fire – or drive their cattle through it!

It is a spiritual purification

NATURE

Thank the spirits who help crops, fruits and flowers grow.

Offerings are given to Sunna – fruit, mead, ale, grains, smoked fish.

GREENS and FLOWERS are used to deck everything. Wreaths and garlands are strewn around the house and for people to wear.

Put seven different wildflowers under your pillow and you will dream of your future spouse!

Roll naked in the morning dew for health and fertility!

TRADITIONS

The Maypole.

Although we associate the Maypole with the month of May, it actually comes from the verb “to mei” – which is the same as “to deck” (decorate) …. In countries slightly further south – such as England, the flowers were already blooming a month earlier – so that is when their “mei” happened, eventually becoming the month of May.

But the Nordic meing traditions happened in June at the solstice. Therefore, their Maypole is in June!

The Nordic Maypole is a very specific shape.