birch time listenings
sound installation and three performance-rituals
Birch Time Listenings grew from an invitation from the birches - to slow down and listen to their stories and human stories living in our shared memories with the birches.
The structure of the artwork is rooted in a motif often found in Latvian dainas* - a birch tree standing at the crossroads with three leaves - in one leaf the day rises, in another it sets, in the third the sun shines, glittering. These three leaves also represent the interconnectedness of past, present, and future and the cyclical nature of tree time.
The artwork consists of a sound installation and three performance-rituals. Altogether they explore how our relationships with trees in times of multiple planetary emergencies could help lift the curse of separation at the heart of them and how our relationships with birch can become spells for new beginnings.
Sound Installation
consists of listening stations and a 31-minute sound-piece composed from personal and collective stories, poetry, folksongs, and embodied tree connection practices.
Performance-rituals
Three live performance rituals activate the installation at three different times - dusk, dawn, day - each exploring a different dimension of birch time and symbolism. Each performance lasts ~30 min.
Photos: Frau Oblachko (Nadiia Tarasevych); Santiago Salazar; Liene Jurgelāne
audience reflections
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this moving story, these stories.
Thank you for your voice, your courage, to tell them... to sing them.
For letting me feel the depth of my own roots, for giving me the opportunity to connect with the birch trees around me, to ground myself, like they do. They radiate optimism so easily and brightly, a steadfastness, like a mother, defying the heavy darkness in their roots, their wings, waving confidently in the moving air.
Thank you for letting me intertwine with you and all the stories, like mycelium in this earth.
Touching songs, honest voices. Your voice.
”
“I came for yesterday’s performance. My young daughter was with me, she has a depression. After we left the birches and you, she could walk in silence and peace, without the podcast in her ears. I came today to be alone with the audio installation. It cured my headache and filled me with hope.
P.S. I have always been talking to insects and birds and all animals. You taught me to meet the plants and trees with communication as well. This has been a transforming piece of art. ”
“thank you for getting in touch with myself, with nature, my childhood, dreams, history, with you.”
“feels that the liveliness of birches is much more present, potent, sensible. I feel more attentive to the light, wind and birches. Makes me zoom out of everyday busyness and be with what feel safe and nourishing. Thank you.”
“Fantastic performance! Good voice and exciting stories.”
“These birch stories allowed me to reconnect with my grief and to be with it. This experience now feels like a sanctuary, that will always be with me in my memories. And thank you for the hope.”
“dear birches and Liene, thank you so much for this beautiful experience. Even at noon, with the Sun and its highest, the space was magical, special and soft. I felt very welcomed in becoming part of the living body and network, connecting across generations and places. I will take this experience with me and am looking forward to discover this beautiful light and energy in other places in the future.”
“dear Liene, thank you for the two inspiring gatherings among the birches that I joined. Thank you for the personal, connecting audio installation. it was one of the most inspiring moments at the festival.”
“It touched me to the core. The stories, the songs, the poetry. It’s incredible to witness how your talents flourish, and feel how healing it is. May the birches guide us.”