The Circle and the Square (2015–17)
Photographic Prints from the Video
The Circle and the Square was commissioned by the arts program Super Slow Way and took place in Pendle, England. The project was a two-year collaboration between Lacy, local non-profits, and religious groups. This 20 minute two-screen video is a poetic reference to the project, by filmmaker Mark Thomas of Soup Collective.
On the back wall of a large workroom a dual projection on a 32x9 format lingered on a circle of chairs with Sufi chanting and a square of chairs with Shape Note singers. The 20 minute projection has no talking, with just the rhythm of moving bodies, sound, occasional shots of the mill, and an intimate focus on the deeply engaged faces of participants. The projection builds through an intimate examination of people’s spiritual expressions to a deeply moving portrait of joy and habitation – of bodies, of community, and of the empty mill.
Other videos, including 50 or more portraits of local residents reflecting on the region’s past and future, by Mao Mollona, Elena Adorni, and Graham Kay, are part of this installation.
Mr. and Mrs. Peake by Graham Kay is an important part of the video collection from this project. Documentary videos by Huckleberry Films are also part of this collection.
(Excerpt from Suzanne Lacy: We Are Here)