strung

strung - A collaborative film and performanc by Jane Fradgley & Shane Waltener for 
Reclaiming Asylum, an exhibition at the Bethlem Gallery. 

Below are extracts from the exhibition catalogue. All images are film still shot by Antonia Attwood
  

Whilst exploring ideas of being grounded (or not), facing anxiety, risk taking, embracing the unknown and the journeys taken as a consequence of all of this. A young woman weaves and moves through an insecure structure, feet off the ground, attached to the tree itself, which while defying gravity gives her support, safety and freedom to climb.

Based around a majestic Lebanese cedar tree next to the Bethlem Gallery, Fradgley and Waltener have come together employing stitch, movement, sound and visuals to create new performance and moving-image based work with Laura Glaser (dance artist), Zoë Gilmour (sound artist) and Antonia Attwood (videographer). Inspired by Fradgley’s project held and Waltener’s woven installation and performance work, strung, is an enquiry into notions of personal boundaries, freedom and restraint.

seeking movement for blessing

barefoot dancing

cutting shapes

shifting

yearning and stitching

blissfully climbing

breathlessly

falling

darkness looming

unnatural holding

strung out

pausing

melting gently cleaving

soul transcending

end of the

weaving

A poem by Jane Fradgley

Note to myself: Find out what a work might be about. Let everyone get on with what they do best. As soon as we all know, the work will be done.- Shane Waltener