rivercities

What is your connection to the river? #urbanflowevent (rivercities) is a pilot project investigating through performance, words/images, and social media, the human connection to intersecting systems of flow in East London along the River Lea – considering networks of human waste/sewage, water supply, body water at cellular and body systems levels, and everyday human movements. The project is collaborative, involving sirenscrossing artists and many local people. Several linked, experimental research ‘performances’ in sites along London’s Lea Valley will be piloted in preparation for a full production during 2015. You can get involved! We welcome anyone interested in taking part or who wishes to post photographic responses to this blog. Recruiting people now, including children, youth, and adults. Contact: [email protected]

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mic.com

Important intervention in devastated space.

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looking up yesterday into a perfect sky. The city flows and contorts below...but above is the universe.   s   l   o   w 

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"This piece was like a journey through the circles of water, its essence to us as humans and to everything else around us..."

One response to our test performances at the end of September in East London. 2015 production planning now in progress!

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Dancers 17-25 yrs old wanted for free site specific dance workshop near Hackney Marsh on Saturday 20 September, 3:30-6pm

Workshop + choreography led by sirenscrossing – dancer Erwin Semler (Sweden) and director Carolyn Deby (UK/Canada). A chance to be involved in a choreography inspired by the human behaviour in a real urban location and to learn about performing with a professional company. Selected workshop participants will then be invited to perform on 26, 27 and 28 Sept as part of #urbanflowevent (rivercities), with a rehearsal on 25 Sept. To find out more or to register, contact: Carolyn Deby [email protected]

[sirenscrossing-rivercities]

We love it! I run around here all the time...it's significant to me also because I'm from Stansted Abbots (further up the Lea). We've followed along the river even up there. The other day we saw this man, naked in this river, being washed by a woman. Some sort of ritual I guess...

Janet + Tess on the Old River Lea, near Hackney Marshes

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Love the Lea festival, Walthamstow Marshes 2014-08-17. 

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Love the Lea festival! 

What a lovely day it became even though it started off with som heavy showers of rain.

The water body booth was well visited and the rivercities performance a magic ending to a festival that brought together both people and the thoughts how to make a more sustainable ecosystem with the river Lea in focus.

Thank you who showed up and made it a beautiful community event!

See you soon.

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" I like working for the Canal and River trust that is basically it.

I grew up in Northfolk which is very green, and here in London it is not so many green spaces.

I am attracted to water, I am out in the sun and I get to talk to nice people. I have learnt so much from this job."

Imogen

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" I prefer living alone. Living on this boat is quiet and intimate and when I step out I am suddenly out on the street. I have lived in a boat for three years.

Me and my friend swim in this river."

Camillo & Pablo

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" My friend lives close to here so I ride my bike to her along the river because it is calmer. This place also reminds me of my hometown Milan. It feels like home! "

Chiara

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" We are working next to the river. We saw rats swimming in there in this morning. It is horrible, so we do our best not to fall in there.

Yesterday we spotted a boat sinking.

Our job is to put spikes on the bridge for stopping people from make graffiti ." 

John & Peter

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River Lea: partitioned / hidden behaviours // freedom of access // FEAR OF NATURE / river boundary markers / Booth Poverty Map / FLOW / interrupted // constructed access / manipulated access / STOP / controlled / source of drinking water / illicit activities // forbidden / tidal zone / Old River Lea / locks / river - canal - railway - road / water cycle / stagnant / river as a water feature / TRANSPORTATION / without movement / facing towards / facing away / Lea Lug Lugers: Celtic or Roman god – patron of trade & commerce, protector of travellers, inventor of arts / disease pollution contamination // bad people / bad waters / WILD reclaiming the manufactured / / disused filter / beds / i eat the river / PEACEFUL / i didn't choose the river / its relaxing / seclusion or connection? FLOW

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" I learned how to swim in the river Lea. It was very badly polluted back in these days.

What doesn't kill you make you stronger they say!

A year ago I stopped drinking the tap-water here though. It made me really sick in combination with my medication. I used to puke a lot from it. Nobody drinks the water from around here, the pipes most be over 100 years old at least.

I don't go out much but I have my garden here that needs the water, and my African cats. Today is a good day, I am not feeling sick.

Brian, Cheech & Anna

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“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters.” ― Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It and Other Stories

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I didn't know we drink the water from this river. It is clean?

Toyan