Remembrance Day : Expression & Silence

About

Remembrance Day this year falls on 11.11.11 — the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 2011 — and to mark it Bristol's Pierian Centre is hosting a day of film, poetry, art and discussion. The day starts at 10.30am with an exhibition of work by Bristol artists Janet Roome and Sally Stanley inspired by the events of the First World War. The exhibition is open till 5.30pm — but a programme of events runs alongside it throughout the day. At 10.45am candles are lit in readiness for the 2-minutes silence at 11am. This is followed from 11.05am to 11.45am by readings of some of the best poetry from the Great War — works by Owen, Sassoon, Vera Brittain and others. The official Launch of the art exhibition takes place at 12.00 with speeches from the artists and the performance of a song written especially for Remembrance Day. A free lunch follows from 12.30 till 2pm when an open discussion on the Relevance of Remembrance Day is launched by local poet and historian Trevor Carter (finishing at 3pm). This is a great chance to explore the issues raised by the artwork, the poems and Remembrance Day more broadly. The evening sees the screening at 7.30pm of a new drama documentary Severn and Somme — the life of Gloucestershire's forgotten genius Ivor Gurney. Redcliffe Film's portrait of the troubled poet/composer was shot locally, and follows Gurney's life from the trenches of World War One to the lunatic asylum where he spent his later years. Though all the other events are free, there is an entrance fee of £5 for the film (concessions available). Booking is essential on 0117 924 4512 or www.pieriancentre.com.