Garden of Memory program
photo by Styrous©
Last Friday, June 21, I enjoyed a celebration of the summer solstice by attending the Garden of Memory performances at the Chapel of the Chimes crematory and columbarium in Oakland, CA. I know, I hear you saying, "Say, WHAT?!" Well, that's where the event was held and it couldn't have been in a better location.
I love firsts. They say there's a first time for everything and it was two firsts for me. I had never been to the Chapel of the Chimes and I had never attended any of the Garden of Memory performances. Both are incredible!
First the venue. The Chapel of the Chimes is one of the most beautiful and unusual buildings I have every been in. Designed by architect, Julia Morgan, and built in 1928, the Moorish and Gothic-inspired interior is a wonder to behold. It's footprint appears small but the architecture, details and lighting are extraordinary. The spaces range from tiny to huge laid out in a dizzying maze of rooms, corridors, nooks and crannies filled with fountains, statuary, mosaics and stonework. Photos of the Chapel can be seen here.
What was the event? Presentations of new and experimental music and sound constructions by San Francisco Bay Area musician and sound artists. This performance was unusual in that it was not watched/listened to in the traditional theatrical setting. There was absolutely no seating; instead the audience wandered throughout the building to the various locations where the artists were performing. There were over a hundred of them. There was no concept of a start or ending with some of them and they could be listened to for as long as one wished. When ready, one could wander on to the next performer. Because of the confusing maze of the architecture, turning a corner resulted in surprising encounters.
What was the event? Presentations of new and experimental music and sound constructions by San Francisco Bay Area musician and sound artists. This performance was unusual in that it was not watched/listened to in the traditional theatrical setting. There was absolutely no seating; instead the audience wandered throughout the building to the various locations where the artists were performing. There were over a hundred of them. There was no concept of a start or ending with some of them and they could be listened to for as long as one wished. When ready, one could wander on to the next performer. Because of the confusing maze of the architecture, turning a corner resulted in surprising encounters.
(click on any image to see slideshow)
program site map
photo by Styrous©
The first performers the attendees encountered were Jaroba and Keith Cary who did their magic in front of the Chapel.
Jaroba
photo by Styrous©
Keith Cary
photo by Styrous©
Katrina Wreede inside the main entrance
photo by Styrous©
Xu Fengxia (on the right)
photos by Styrous©
My only regret of the evening was that I was not able to hear and photograph all of the artists and their incredible performances. The reason, I spent too much time at many of the performances and I kept getting lost and arrived too late to see many at the location they were performing because it was too jammed to get into by the time I got there. I guess I'll have to go again next year but I don't think that will really be a problem. I can hardly wait!
Performers I missed hearing or photographing:
• Living Earth Show
• Miya Masaoka and Larry Ochs
• Edward Schocker
• Jason Victor Serinus
• Kent Sparling
• Benjamin Tinker
• Wild Rumpus New Music Collective
• William Winant Percussion Group
• Theresa Wong
• Jason Victor Serinus
• Kent Sparling
• Benjamin Tinker
• Wild Rumpus New Music Collective
• William Winant Percussion Group
• Theresa Wong
Performer notes with a whole lot of interesting information about them can be found on the Garden of Memory website.
The event was sponsored by New Music Bay Area which was founded in 1994 to celebrate
the world of new music in the Bay Area. Its mission is to
support and extend the legacy of the Bay Area new music community and
its traditions by fostering new works and projects.
Since 1996 New Music Bay Area has hosted The Garden of Memory
walk-through concert every June 21st from 5pm-9pm at The Chapel of the
Chimes.
Chapel of the
Chimes
4499 Piedmont Ave.
Oakland, CA.
510-400-7498
New Music Bay Area is also a supporter of
the monthly L@TE concerts at the Berkeley Art Museum which are curated by Sarah Cahill BAM/PFA L@TE.
Links to L@TE events at the Berkeley Art Museum (BAM) that have been featured on the Styrous Viewfinder:
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