Slide Shows and Talks
An Lanntair – 5th November 2022
“Jill Smith joined us this afternoon to share her stories and artistic documentation of her journeys through the sacred landscape of Britain including “The Gypsy Switch” – a year long journey around England, Wales and Ireland throughout the 80s.”
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Jill Smith 25 02 22
Jill Smith, who in 1975 was the first woman to feature in the Fruitmarket’s programme, presents the development of her art practice from the 1970s to the present. Always finding ways to keep making work even when tides of favour and resources have been diverted from her, Smith’s story is one of resilience and deep commitment to her chosen life …
‘NEW – Jill now has her talk/slide show “Life, Performance, Journeying, Art” on PowerPoint.
Based on her book ‘The Gypsy Switch and Other Ritual Journeys’ this is an evening’s presentation lasting One and a half – 2 hours.
Jill has been giving inspiring slide shows and talks since 1990.
Jill’s talks are like stories: this is the story of her life’s journey including the physical landscape journeys she made in the early 80s, such as her first journey to the Hebrides in ’82 and the year-long “Gypsy Switch” journey in ’84-’85. She tells the journey of her performances and costume-making which progresses through science fantasy to spectacular ritual ceremonies in outdoor venues to a discovery through the performances of her own deep relationship with earth and cosmos, which changed the nature of those performances and costumes, leading her to leave both behind and move out into the landscape alone. She tells how she began her artwork and writing, moved to the Hebrides, and began a different form of journeying.
Contact Jill for further details
The Network of Ley Hunters Moot in Beccles, Suffolk. The talk was based on my Gypsy Switch book.
A Circle for Callanish
Image of Callanish
This is a specific slideshow, based on her experiences over her first ten years living on the Isle of Lewis – from 1986-1996. It is similar to, though not exactly the same as, her CD of the same name.
It is a beautiful cycle of poetry written over that decade as she turned the cycle of the year – year after year after year. It describes the times she spent at the ancient and sacred sites of the Islands as she celebrated Equinoxes and Solstices and the Celtic festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane and Lammas; as well as the day-to-day life she lived with her then-young son, Taliesin.
She comes from the sea
She links the poems with fascinating information about the places and her life then, putting each into its context.
The slides are of her artwork, beautifully complementing the poems, and of other images taken by her.
Jill does not do Powerpoint. Her slides are 35mm shown on a Carousel projector.
Requirements: Room with complete blackout, projector if she is travelling far from home, tables to display cards and books, etc, publicity and travel expenses.
To discuss possible bookings please contact Jill by email or post. Phone calls will follow.
Jill’s slide shows have been presented in: BRIGHTON, MALVERN fringe festival, LEEDS, NOTTINGHAM, NORWICH, BRISTOL, CROMARTY, HEBDEN BRIDGE, EDINBURGH, LINCOLN, PENZANCE, GLASTONBURY, YORK, ST.AUSTELL, WAKEFIELD, SCARBOROUGH, GREAT MALVERN, BATH, BODMIN, STORNAWAY, BARVAS, NESS, GARENIN, ISLE OF LEWIS.