David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.


10 February 2011

Drumming Up A Crowd

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Today we celebrate the tambour de ville of the Ville de Regard.

A distinguished member of the Theatre of the Actors of Regard, unlike most town criers he makes no announcements. He does not speak at all. Never. He simply arrives without notice anywhere within the town and begins to drum his projection-space mandala.

The people of the ville know him well and have come to respect his practice. When they hear his drum they leave off whatever is occupying them and gather around. Together, they observe the moment.

2011.02_TAR Tambour with ideogram mandala_sRGB_400
detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

someone looks at something ...


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