Review: Music and Literature Salon 2020 – l’AiR ARTS & Paris Lit Up
As part of the international multidisciplinary artists’ residency run by l’AiR ARTS, PLU was invited to co-host a music and literature salon, featuring writers from the residency and local musicians, on January 28. Emily RK from PLU stepped up to present the writers, and Karl Jannuska from the band Midseason took charge of music-related responsibilities.
The event took place at the FIAP cultural centre in the 14th arrondissement where the 3-week l’AiR ARTS residency was based. We were given use of the stage, sound and video equipment, meaning some of the writers were able to incorporate film into their performance.
While the open-plan layout of the space meant acoustics and lighting were somewhat of a challenge, it also meant that other visitors to the centre were able to stop and appreciate the event. And the arrangement of chairs grouped around tables, guests with glasses in hand enjoying the entertainment, was an appropriate reminder of our inspiration: the 1920s salon scene.
We saw a variety of performances from the residents, many of whom chose to perform together, having become close friends over the past few weeks. Their warmth and mutual support was contagious.
The Australian artist and writer Helen Hopcroft opened the evening explaining about her year-long project dressed as Marie Antoinette, combining video with poetry, banging on tables and collaborative chanting. She was followed by the American fiction writer Debra Spark reading from her work-in-progress Rageopolis, who also gave us an explanation about her project.
The Canada-based poet, playwright and essayist Charles C. Smith was a newer addition to the residency, joining the group as part of the cultural professionals’ week. Charles explained some of the connections between the Roaring Twenties, the “jazz” genre and Black music. He then read some of his poetry and we watched a selection of videos featuring the wind in the leaves collective performing to work by Julius Eastman.
Co-founder of the Las Malcriadas writers’ group, the San-Francisco-based writer Karina Muñiz-Pagán invited a selection of other residents to read with her from the bilingual anthology Mujeres Mágicas: Domestic Workers’ Right to Write, published in 2019 by Freedom Voices Press.
Music host Karl Jannuska then took to the stage with his band Midseason, performing songs from their latest release On The Brighter Side. Cynthia Abraham - voice, Pierre Perchaud - guitar, Federico Casagrande - guitar, Nicolas Moreaux - acoustic bass, Karl Jannuska - drums.
Fiona Leonard’s excerpt of her play Love, Sex and Zombies involved performances from the Australian playwright herself, as well as two other residents – dancer Mayumi Lashbrook and performer/writer Kelly Burke – making the most of the different spaces available. Kelly then stayed onstage to perform a delightfully dark and well-executed piece from Brecht’s The Threepenny Opera.
The singer/songwriter Veronica Charnley arrived to perform a selection of songs inspired by her L'AiR Arts residency at Atelier sur Seine, and the evening swung to a close as everyone rose to their feet for a Midsummer jam, revisiting the 1920s with Fernando Brufal on saxophone.
In keeping with the 1920s spirit, we ran late, danced and demanded endless encores before finally being ushered out onto Paris’ streets to find our way who knows where...
Thank you to l’AiR ARTS for inviting Paris Lit Up to be part of this unforgettable residency, and thank you to the talented group of residents and performers who made the experience so enjoyable. We hope to see you again soon in the City of Light.