Longplayer Day
Curated by Helen Frosi and James Bulley.
Goldsmiths, University of London, to Trinity Buoy Wharf, London, UK
(12:00–00:00, Summer Solstice, 21 June 2017).
(12:00–00:00, Summer Solstice, 20 June 2019)
Longplayer Day is inspired by Longplayer, a one thousand year-long composition by the artist Jem Finer. Its curated programme of new commissions, performances, talks, publications and collective activities explore time and duration, and seek to inspire audiences into new consideration of long-term behaviours, environmental awareness and durational thinking. In keeping with the festival’s themes, Longplayer Day takes place biennially on or around the summer solstice (the longest day of the year).
Longplayer Day 2019
On Thursday 20 June 2019, from noon until midnight the Longplayer Trust and Goldsmiths, University of London hosted the second biennial festival Longplayer Day. The day was peripatetic: the audience moved from one location to another, choosing their agenda for the day from the time-specific events, free to join proceedings when they choose. Performances happened in parks, abandoned police stations, churches and on the Thames shoreline, mapping the route to the end destination of Trinity Buoy Wharf (Poplar) at sunset.
Curators: Helen Frosi & James Bulley
Assistant Curator: Philip Serfaty
Longplayer Day Assistant: Gregory White
Advisory group: Jem Finer, Iris Garrelfs & John Levack Drever
Graphic design: Joe Hales
Sound recording: Edward Burton, Tim Fletcher, Levack John Drever
The programme of artists, writers, curators and speakers included:
Ryoko Akama
Ele Carpenter
Oliver Coates
Rhodri Davies
Tess Denman-Cleaver
Max Eastley
Shiva Feshareki
Jem Finer
Clare Gasson
Hither Green Drone Orchestra
Debbie Kent
Aleks Kolkowski
Graham Lambkin
John Lely
‘The Making of Americans’ Reading Group
Phil Minton
Áine O’Dwyer
Lee Patterson
Marcus du Sautoy
Lindsay Seers
Blanc Sceol
Gavin Starks
David Toop
Jennifer Walshe
Longplayer Day 2017
Longplayer Day 2017 was a 12-hour peripatetic cross-disciplinary festival celebrating the recently announced partnership between Goldsmiths and the 1,000 year-long artwork Longplayer by Jem Finer. Events took place across London locations: beginning at Goldsmiths (New Cross) and concluding with celebrations at Trinity Buoy Wharf (Poplar).
Curators: Helen Frosi & James Bulley
Assistant curator: Philip Serfaty
Assistant: Gregory White
Advisory group: Jem Finer, Iris Garrelfs & John Levack Drever
Graphic Design: Joe Hales
Sound recording: Edward Burton, Tim Fletcher, Levack John Drever, Chris Cook
The programme of artists, writers, curators and speakers included:
Rosie Bergonzi playing John Cage
Angharad Davies
Michael Morris
Cathy Haynes
Charles Hayward
John Latham – Erth (screening)
Dominic Murcott
Áine O’Dwyer playing ‘Piano Transplant No.1, the permanently prepared piano’ composed by Annea Lockwood
Blanca Regina & Steve Beresford
Tim Spooner
Siswå Sukrå
The Study Group performing Welcoming the Light by Pauline Oliveros
John Tilbury playing Morton Feldman
John White – Drinking and Hooting Machine
Richard Wilson