TONIGHT: Laurie Anderson performs @ the Fabric Workshop and Museum

POSTED: Thursday, October 13, 2011, 1:00 PM

Filed Under: Arts | Arts Events Arts Preview

Inspiration can strike an artist anywhere. Whether it be a fleeting glance at street graffiti while a passenger on a train, a setting sun while standing alone in a desolate alley or maybe even the death of a trusted companion. The latter example was the case for Laurie Anderson. Her dog, Lolabelle, passed away in April and in response Anderson went to work. The resulting collection, entitled “Forty-Nine Days in the Bardo,” is currently on display at Philadelphia's Fabric Workshop and Museum. Tonight, Anderson will present an accompaniment piece to the exhibit, Animal Stories. "In working on this exhibition I realized that whales, dogs, snakes, horses, ants and many other creatures have played a big part in my work,” explains Anderson in a her artist’s statement. “Animal Stories ... will be a collection of stories about animals throughout my work life.”

“Forty-Nine Days” is a sprawling set of ten charcoal works, each piece measuring 10 feet 4 inches by 14 feet 4 inches. It was inspired by The Tibetan Book of the Dead, which describes a bardo as a forty-nine day journey from death to rebirth. Done entirely in charcoal and presented as a diary narrative, the works are striking and modern. And they’ll be on display until Nov. 19.

Having performed all over the world, Anderson isn’t giving specific details about tonight’s show, but we’re guessing it will involve the violin and electronics — trademarks of her previous performances.

Tonight, reception at 6 p.m., performance/lecture at 7 p.m., The Fabric Workshop and Museum, 1214 Arch St., 215-561-8888, fabricworkshopandmuseum.org.

(chris brown@citypaper.net)

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