'In the boom of the tingling strings' - Bryony Gillard

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Exhibition Opening, Weds 17 April / 5.00-7.30pm The Gallery at Plymouth College of Art Join us to celebrate the opening of Bryony Gillard's exhibition (bar provided). For the opening night of 'In the boom of the tingling strings', a series of live rehearsals by both professional and amateur musicians will take place in the gallery. Bryony's exhibition will be the third and final installment of the South West Showcase. The South West Showcase is a series of solo exhibitions profiling artists based across the South West Region. The three artists were selected through an open call by a panel of arts professionals. The open call and trilogy of exhibitions will reoccur on a bi-annual basis. ++++++ 'In the boom of the tingling' strings considers how domestic music making can operate as a social activator, the role of the amateur musician within society and more specifically, the cultural and social significance of the piano, as an emblem of social mobility and aspiration. Gillard is interested in the notion of 'practice' or 'rehearsal' in a musical context and revealing this private or solitary act in a more public domain. Historically, the piano could be seen as a signifier of the rise of the middle class. From its origins as entertainment for western aristocracy; to becoming the main source of music within the home until the early/mid 20th century, and most recently, 'piano fever' in China - where the popularity of piano lessons for the children of the expanding middle classes has reached unprecedented heights, with factories producing over 100,000 pianos a year. The Gallery at PCA will be transformed into a working practice room for musicians, with a schedule of rehearsals throughout the exhibition open to anyone who plays non-amplified music. Visitors are invited to view the rehearsals, uncovering a normally private act and nudging it into the realm of performance. Other works include a song-essay exploring the relationship between the piano and female identity, performed by the artist's mother, sisters and nieces; and an offsite performance, orchestrating a simultaneous piano recital. bryonykategillard.blogspot.com