The Monday Lecture series (since 1997) consists of presentations by contemporary artists and cultural practitioners who work across disciplines. This is an opportunity to hear artists, writers, cultural activists talk about the history of their practice and show examples of their work. The lecture series is curated by Mine Kaylan for The School of Arts and Media, as part of the Sallis Benney Theatre public lecture programme.
October 15th Donna Rutherford (Scotland)
Donna Rutherford has been working in the realm of art performance as a writer, performer, director & video maker since 1990. Her work includes solo and collaborative projects in the UK and abroad with a wide range of artists, international musicians, university psychology departments and community-based participants. Her various commissions over the years include International Initiatives, Barclays New Stages, BBC2, National Review of Live Art, Arts & Humanities Research Council, Opera North, Violence Against Women campaigns, Flemish sound festivals. Her work looks at how people deal with (and don’t deal with) things in their life, when they are pushed to extremes.
During her 3 year AHRC Creative Fellowship, Rutherford explored the transformation and distortion of personal memory into live art work, and involved the making of video entitled ‘Rearranging Realities’ with interviews of artist including Bobby Baker, Robert Pacitti, Aine Philips and Fiona Templeton.
Rutherford’s recent project KIN was selected for the Made In Scotland showcase as part of this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, after initial funding from Creative Scotland to support a collaboration with NHS.
“KIN... a who’s who of contemporary British theatre, including Claire Marshall and Cathy Naden of Forced Entertainment, Richard Gregory of Quarantine, Tim Ingram of Reckless Sleepers and the actor Alison Peebles – the performance asks its middle-aged participants to reflect on their changing relationships with elderly parents.” The Irish Times, 11th May 2012
“Rutherford has an instinct for delving into the troubled heartland of everyday life. [with KIN] she succeeds in confronting our fears while reminding us to celebrate shared humanity. ” The Herald11th February 2011
Rutherford will be appearing at Tate Britain on 5th October 2012 as part of 'Bodies of Memory', curated by Fiona Templeton.
www.donnarutherford.org
