Sound Henge with Madame Ceski

Local experimental musical artist Madame Ceski (Francesca Simmons) worked on a life-sized stone circle sound installation during December 2022.

The project invited you to step inside the sound circle to be enveloped in a ritual soundscape and touch the tactile stones to trigger sounds, in this transformative musical experience. Inspired by the history, archaeology & folklore of stone circles, the artist is creating a space that uses our senses to link ancient to modern.

Stone circles are places of connection (community and land) and experience (ritual and sensory). Through the use of multi-speaker sound installation & tactile sound technology, the artist will ignite this dialogue, creating a reflective space that draws on our relationship with the land, the skies above & the rhythm of the natural world.  

The stones are created through a process similar to rug making (tufting/latch-hook). During her time in the space, the artist will set up an area for the public to do self-led tufting, with materials and instructions provided. These tufts will create an additional mossy carpet to be added to the installation throughout the residency.

There were also be events happening throughout December:

Saturday 03 Dec: 10am – 12pm, Listen & Tuft: Family friendly open session – try your hand at tufting as you listen to dreamy improvised music on violin, viola & musical saw. All ages welcome. Book here.

Tuesday 06 Dec: 10am – 12pm, Baby & Toddler Listen & Relax: 0-18 months welcome to drop in and relax to the sounds of improvised music, performed live by the artist. Book here.

Thursday 15 Dec: 10am – 12pm – Behind the Scenes of Sound Henge: Artist’s talk at the Morning Meet-up. The artist shares insights into the project research and her fascination with Folk and ritual practices.

Friday 16 Dec: 5.30 – 7pm, Sound Henge Live:

5.30pm – 9pm – Exhibition Opening 

7.30pm – Talk with guest speaker, University of Bristol’s Professor Ronald Hutton on Stonehenge. Book here.

Wednesday 21 Dec: 6pm – 9pm – Winter Solstice Live, ticketed book here:

An evening of celebration, dance, music, food, drink, talks, ritual and folklore as we welcome in The Winter Solstice. Including:

• Morris dancing and music from Stroud’s incredible all-female side Boss Morris
• An improvised live set, by Madame Ceski
• A talk by British archaeologist Susan Greaney about Bristol local Stone Circle Stanton Drew – ‘The Forgotten Stone Circle of Stanton Drew’
• Delicious hot food and drink, from The Orchard Bakery & Co. 
• A pop up shop by the mushroom farm running from St Anne’s House, The Flushrooms.

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