Phoenix Archive Project Commission
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A bag full of old 16mm film reel was delivered to Exeter Phoenix as a donation, by someone who knew themselves to be in possession of something precious, but couldn't preserve it. Exeter Phoenix Digital digitised the film and in doing so rescued a rare archive of home video footage from 1930s - 1960s, which tracks one family’s travels and activities through this turbulent period. From daily life and family outings to major historical events and world travel, the archive represents an exciting historical record.
Considering this is a good forty years ahead of the commercially available family camcorders of the 1970s and almost 90 years in advance of the smart phone, live stream, social media selfie culture era we now inhabit, this insight into the birth of domestic documentary is completely fascinating. I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to create a song cycle in response to the Phoenix Archive. It's been extraordinary reflecting on this exceptional informal and intimate footage of the Parrish family and their friends over 30 years. Witnessing this fragmented, decontextualised and informative piece of social history brings a generative mix of tenderness, discomfort, beauty, humour and fascination which has been a rich seam to delve into as a songwriter! Live performances offer the opportunity to hear this brand new body of work performed live by myself, cellist Clarissa Carlyon and drummer Oli Haines, ahead of an exciting recording session later this summer (Events) XENIA GLEN & ANTOSH WOJCIK Antosh and Xenia are filmmakers, writers, and co-founders of Sleepwalker, a Dorset-based production company that was founded as a filmmaker collective in 2017. Antosh and Xenia’s films have premiered at the London Film Festival, the London Short Film Festival, and on BBC3. ‘Exploding Memory’ is an archive-based exploration of preserving memories in the modern era. HOLLY EBONY Commissioned by Phoenix Archive Project, Devon folk artist Holly Ebony performs her new song cycle reflecting on themes around family, social change, memory, travel, colonialism and relationship to place arising from the footage. Cascading vocals heady & peaty raw as the Dartmoor landscape she hails from, her ‘intoxicating’ (Fatea) 2023 debut album Born For These Times is ‘surprisingly potent’ (RNR) Female led folk of ‘Easy Excellence’ (ArtsCulture), serene harmony & elemental ferocity and led to Holly supporting both Jesca Hoop and Lady Nade. Latest anthemic fundraiser single Follow Your Feet ‘Love letter to nature’ (BBC Intro) for Right to Roam features a rousing campaign community chorus and artwork by Sunday Times bestseller illustrator, Nick Hayes. The Phoenix Archive Project has been made possible thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Radcliffe Trust. The Premiere of these works will be hosted by Exeter Phoenix on July 16th Free Entry. Book Here exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/phoenix-archive-project-commission-premiere/ |
