Dear List,

I thought people might be interested to hear about a conference that the
Centre for Performance Research in Aberystwyth is holding in July this year.

POINTS OF CONTACT: PERFORMANCE, HOMES AND GARDENS
Friday 27th – Monday 30th July 2001

What do the ways in which we engage with domestic space through performance
tell us about the wider cultures in which we live?

How are domestic spaces differently performed within other cultural contexts
and how are the new politics of land and space being refigured today through
the work of artists currently working in homes and gardens around the world?

Throughout the 90s, new innovative work has emerged that has placed itself
literally in the domestic environment: the kitchen, the lounge, the bedroom.
Site-specific work has turned away from the grand spectacle (disused docks
and factories) to the intimate and the everyday. There are many historical
precedents for this: from Squat Theatre in the 70s; Living Theatre in the
50s and 60s; back to Anton Chekhov producing work in his front room for an
audience of 5 or 6 people.

At the same time, the garden as the “outdoor living room”, as the attempt to
structure nature, as the place to nurture, and as a project of space and
architecture, has begun to fascinate many performance artists as a site for
new work and performance journeys: itinerant, fragile and ephemeral. And
once again this has many historical precedents: masques, pageants, and son
et lumières.

With the opening of the National Botanical Garden of Wales and the
restoration of Aberglasney; with Portmeirion, Llanerchaeron (nr. Aberaeron),
Hafod, and Plas Tan Y Bwlch (nr. Maentwrog), all within an hour’s drive of
Aberystwyth, HOMES AND GARDENS will form an itinerant conference with field
trips, performances and presentations, where the homes and gardens of Wales
become sites for demonstrations, expeditions and debate.

The project brings together artists, thinkers and writers across disciplines
and across cultures to consider the performance of domestic space – the
staging of private space - and its relation to wider ideas about class,
nationality, history, memory, the politics of land use, and the future of
art practice.

Engaging with specific public and private sites in Wales, the conference
will explore the relationship between ideas (and ideals) of domestic space
in the old and new worlds and within post-colonial thinking, the
relationship of domestic space as spectacle to ideas about history and
identity, performance as a tool in rethinking the relationship of public and
private space and the relationship of domestic space, art and gender.

“I loved the ensuing mix of ordinary and extraordinary – in walking, talking
and sharing… This was a fantastic achievement… If you haven’t done one
[Points of Contact project]… do… soon” Participant, Points of Contact:
Performance, Places and Pasts 1998

POINTS OF CONTACT is a continuing series of international conferences that
aim to generate investigation, critical debate and understanding of
cross-disciplinary approaches to performance and performance studies. Most
recently the conference has addressed: ‘Performance, Places and Pasts’
(1998), ‘Performance, Tourism and Identity’ (1996) and ‘Performance, Food
and Cookery (1994).  The series aims to provide opportunities for artists,
critics, promoters and academics to discuss current practices and issues in
the performing arts across disciplines in an international context.

Performance, Homes and Gardens has been designed so that delegates can take
in the whole conference or simply come for a day. As an itinerant event,
places are limited, so book early.

Registration Fees (including food and Sunday night accommodation at
Gregynog):
£295 (institutional) £225 (waged) £185 (unwaged)
Daily Rate   £85 (institutional) £60 (waged) £40 (unwaged)
(Plus £20 for Sunday night bookings on daily rate)

Further information from me, as below.

Antony Pickthall
Marketing & Development Director
Centre for Performance Research
6, Science Park
Aberystwyth, SY23 3AH
Tel: +44 (0) 1970 621571
Fax: +44 (0) 1970 622132
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Web: www.thecpr.org.uk