The Crawford Hotel
Civil Dusk: Performance by Artist Bethany Collins
Presented at St. John’s Cathedral, in conjunction with MCA Denver’s current exhibition.
Named after the first stage of twilight, Bethany Collins’ Civil Dusk (2024−2025) will begin as sunlight fades. The performance consists of multiple versions of Auld Lang Syne sung simultaneously, while focusing on a version historically sung by soldiers in the trenches of war. The melody remains constant as the lyrics change, resulting in a familiar chaos. Despite moments of rupture, there are a few moments of synchronicity in the performance, where two voices nearly align. The performance will conclude at astronomical twilight, when the sunlight no longer illuminates the west-facing stained glass windows of Saint John’s Cathedral. The ending is in darkness.