
June 1, 2023
A live performance by @xcrswx [Crystabel Riley / Seymour Wright]
Followed by a DJ set by A Colder Consciousness, (Flora Pitrolo)
During the late naughties Crystabel Riley toured Japan and Europe using drums, electronics and make-up in noise trio Maria and the Mirrors. This was the start of her interest in patterns on skins - human and drum. This interest in dimensional patterns existing on (and off) different surfaces has continued to evolve through exploring the idea of 'care and uncare' of the skin, self, others, and the world, across all of Crystabel's practices as an Artist (Make-up, Drum). Crystabel has been a long term collaborator of Sue Lynch as well as the London Improvisers Orchestra. She is currently working on the multi-format duo project @xcrswx with Seymour Wright. She recently played at LCMF (London Contemorary Music Festival)
Seymour Wright is a saxophonist. His work is about the creative, situated friction of learning, ideas, people and the saxophone – music, history and technique – actual and potential. Seymour's solo music is documented on three widely-acclaimed collections - Seymour Wright of Derby (2008), Seymour Writes Back (2015) and Is This Right? (2017). Current projects include: @xcrswx with Crystabel Riley; abaria with Ute Kanngiesser; [Ahmed] with Antonin Gerbal, Joel Grip and Pat Thomas; GUO with Daniel Blumberg; XT with Paul Abbott; The Creaking Breeze Ensemble; a trans-atlantic duet with Andy Guthrie, and, with Jean-luc Guionnet a project addressing an imaginary lacunae in Aby Warburg's Atlas Mnemosyne.
@xcrswx created the soundtrack for Dreaming Alcestis, a hologpaphic installation, co-directed by Beatrice Gibson and Nick Gordon, co written by Maria Nadotti and produced by Okta Film. Dreaming Alcestis is commissioned by the Museo Civico of Castelbuono and Hayward Gallery Touring for British Art Show 9, and supported by the Italian Council (X edition, 2021).
Flora Pitrolo is an academic and DJ. Her research investigates experimental performance and music cultures of the 1980s, with a special focus on Italy. Her latest book, Taroni-Cividin, documents the avant garde duo's performance, video and expanded cinema output from 1977-84. She is active as a DJ in multiple experimental music scenes.
This event is a collaboration with Civico Museo Castelbuono, Sicilia Queer Festival and is supported by The Italian Council (2021)