Spiral Productions

A pair of performers wearing bodysuits dance and balance together in this short film for director Shirley Clarke’s Four Journeys Into Mystic Time.

This short film takes place on Prince Edward Island, an island that is slowly changing and disappearing, as it is carved by weather and the elements. Sculptor, Don Tryhurn returns after being away for five years, to retrieve an unfinished sandstone sculpture from the vacant land he once inhabited.

Part of the larger filmic Four Journeys Into Mystic Time, in this work director Shirley Clarke makes use of a dancer’s body not only as the primary performer, but also as a canvas on which to paint projected images. Further enhanced by editing and effective use of shadows, the film is a transformative experience.

An abstract work featuring three dancers, the performers interact with large screens as well as each other. Included in Shirley Clarke’s Four Journeys Into Mystic Time, costuming and color play an integral role in this piece.