Join the Museum in releasing this exciting recording for “A Vision Awakening” next Tuesday evening, April 14th, 2015. A special 15 minute excerpt will be performed live following a panel lecture with Reflections artists. Click here to make your reservation and find out more information about this event.
The concept for this specially written piece, “A Vision Awakening”, came about over 2 years ago. Jacksonville musician, multi instrumentalist and songwriter, Lee Hunter (formerly of the band, Tammerlin), percussionist, Charlotte Mabrey and violinist, Philip Pan began a collaboration with the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens to create a performance in celebration of the Gardens and their setting along the St. Johns River. The St. Johns became the inspiration for the program. The result was the concert “A Vision Awakening- A Celebration of the Cummer Gardens and the St. Johns River” which was first given in September of 2013.
Hunter, Mabrey and Pan began the process of creating the concert by researching the archives of The Cummer, digging through the letters and diaries of Ninah Cummer. Next, they invited actors Kevin Bodge and Barbara Colaciello to join them. The result was a performance of music and spoken word featuring text from Ninah’s speeches, garden journals and writings by others. The text is mixed with and supported by music that reflects the setting. The music included a marimba solo (performed by Charlotte Mabrey), a hauntingly beautiful piece for piano and vibraphone by Arvo Part (Mabrey and Hunter), an original song (written by Lee Hunter), a medley of violin works (performed by Philip Pan), improvisation and more. This collaboration captured not only the beauty of The Cummer’s existing Gardens and the river that is the heart of our city, but provided insight into the passionate woman who had the vision, heart and energy to bring such beauty to our city.
When the Cummer began planning for The Year of the River (#YOTR) and the Reflections: Artful Perspectives on the St. Johns River exhibition, it made perfect sense for “A Vision Awakening” to be a part of the celebration. Thanks to the generosity of a number of private donors, a CD recording of the concert will play in the gallery throughout the “Reflections” exhibition. The CD will be available for purchase in the Cummer Shop as well.
PLUS – Don’t forget to save the date for the full concert performance on June 7, 2015 as part of the ongoing celebration of Cultural Fusion’s “The Year of the River”. Click here to find out more information and Get your tickets here for that event.
