Performance Art

From the early 70s – early 80s Jill was known as Jill Bruce, one-half of the Performance Art duo – “Bruce Lacey and Jill Bruce” or “Galactic Theatre”. For five years they were funded by the then Arts Council of Great Britain.

They performed large-scale spectacular, ritual, ceremonial, elemental celebrations at outdoor venues such as the last Barsham Faire, the Albion Faires and Faerie Faires in East Anglia; and at City Farms, Art Centres, Art Colleges, etc, all over Britain; and exhibited documentation with installation and Performance as part of many exhibitions, including two major two-person shows at the Acme Gallery, London and one at the Serpentine Gallery. A picture archive of some of these performances will gradually be added to this site.

Click here to see the new Archive page.

Re-emergence – a performance in February ’22 at the Fruitmarket, Edinburgh. Photos Tiu Makkonen

Lyng Fairie Fair in 1981.	Lyng Fairie Fair
Moon Cycle Performance – Moon Fair, East Anglia	Fire Performance Photo by Tiffany Lacey
Virgo in “Journey round the Glastonbury Zodiac”	Ritual for Tree Wedding – Rougham Tree Fair Photo by Peter Smith

 

Jill Smith (formerly Jill Bruce) at Hood Fair, circa 1979. Photo: Roy Perring

Jill Smith (formerly Jill Bruce) and Bruce Lacey at Hood Fair, circa 1979. Photo: Roy Perring

ill Smith (formerly Jill Bruce) with Bruce Lacey, getting things started at Hood Fayre. Photo: Roy Perring

Since leaving Bruce Lacey in 1982, Jill has occasionally created new performances and will sometimes still do so for specific places and situations which inspire her. See also the recent Fruitmarket performance at the top of the page

While in Glastonbury she created several examples, such as the “Labyrinth of Light” for the 2002 Winter Solstice celebration at the Chalice Well Gardens.

Labyrinth of Light – Chalice Well Gardens, Winter Solstice 2002
Photo by Talie Smith

Imbolc Ritual, Hotbath Gallery, Bath, Imbolc 2004, Monica Sjöö Exhibition

Samhain Ritual “The Divine Ancestress” – weekend event, Bath, November 2004

 

2012: Picnic Event with a cake to celebrate Lammas and Jill’s 70th birthday at the Achmore Stone Circle, Isle of Lewis.

Click on any image to see a larger version, and the “back” button to return to this page.

The cake	Harvest offerings to the Corn Dolly	Untitled photo – Karen Taylor
	Jill blows the conch photo – Karen Taylor	Jill begins unveiling the cake photo – Sofi-Ona Hamer
The cake unveiled	A bellyfull of jelly babies photo – Sofi-Ona Hamer	Happy Picknickers

For a general discussion of possibilities, contact Jill initially by email or post, and then telephone conversations can follow.

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