Ancient Elements
LINDSAY EMBREE VISION The inspiration for the "Ancient Elements" project emerged from three seemingly separate interests: the yards of silk fabric that I dye in New Zealand using Eco-Colour Dye methods, my love of Flamenco, and my knowledge of Ancient Greek history & culture. Eco-Colour Dyeing introduced me to the world of plant-based colours and shapes. This method of dyeing allows Nature to have a “voice”, a voice that is reflected in the shape of the leaves and the colours they give. Dance is one of my favourite art forms and I have danced for many years. When I started taking Flamenco lessons, I quickly became enthralled with every element that is Flamenco: the music, the rhythms, the singing, the dancing, and the dresses. At the core of Flamenco is an energy of intense passion and “fire” that fuses all its elements into one. The Ancient Greeks (≈450BC) believed there were four Elements that everything in our World is made up of: Earth, Air, Fire and Water. To me the Eco-Colour dye method embraces these four elements: the colours come from the plants and trees of the Earth, the bundles of silk fabrics and leaves are simmered in Water, and the colours emerge because of Fire and the Air that feeds it. Tonight, this is all ignited by the “Spark” of a poem. The silk fabrics for the four flamenco dresses were specially selected and dyed in such a way as to represent each of the Four Ancient Greek Elements of Fire, Earth, Air, and Water; the four together make up the whole. I hope you enjoy this show!
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