Project 35 - she was the smell of good mud // she is lady grey

She was the smell of good mud // she is lady grey

Paige Jansen, ethical designer and Movement Art Practice
27 – 28 July 2019
Underground Market
Property Partner: Oakwood Properties
Images: Justin Spiers

she was the smell of good mud // she is lady grey brought a beautiful and contemplative performance to the city that was part dance, part uniquely made clothing, part live music.

Facilitated through the collaborative efforts of Choreographer, Julia Harvie and Ethical Clothing Designer, Paige Jansen, the work addressed their shared desire to work with real bodies within the context of the fashion and dance industries where the ‘body beautiful’ has historically been narrowly defined. ‘Lady Grey’ is a celebration of the body in all its forms and special thanks must go to the dancers for their courage and generosity in this process.

Origins
The title refers to a cup of Lady Grey tea that led to an epiphany - a personal decision on Paige’s part to seek a less solitary way to explore her practice. Initial inspiration came from dance academic, Julia Bryan-Wilson’s writing Practicing Trio A (The MIT Press Journals, October, No 140, Spring 2012, p54 - 74) as well as Yvonne Rainer’s work, trio A (1966) itself. As in Trio A, this work is against vanity. There is no narrative, instead, it engages with the ways bodies draw in and expand space and enrich our relationship with time. The dancers engage and embody a less performative presence, to create an intimacy and shared privacy with the audience. There is space for vulnerability and fragility and a certain defiance against objectification.

The work was an intercity and interdisciplinary collaboration, working with Dunedin Dream Brokerage and 3 Dunedin musicians to complete the team.

Programme
Saturday 27th July - Performance
Food and drinks provided during the exquisite, immersive, multidisciplinary performance.

Sunday 28th July - Pop Up Store
Paige Jansen and Julia Harvie in conversation with Grace Ryder, curator and arts administrator currently based in Ōtepoti, and director of Blue Oyster Art Project Space (2017—).

Images: Justin Spiers
Using only cotton, linen and silk, Paige has patterned and hand made all the clothes you see.

Otago Daily Times story