Name: THE BOOK OF DAYS: A film by MEREDITH MONK
Start: 2026-05-09T19:00:00-04:00
Location: Epsilon Spires

THE BOOK OF DAYS: A film by MEREDITH MONK

A poetic tribute and incantation of that which connects us... drawing parallels between the Middle Ages, a time of war, plague and fear of the Apocalypse, with modern times of racial and religious conflict, epidemics, fear of nuclear annihilation and the cyclical nature of such phenomenon.
Book of Days is the culmination of over two decades of Monk's creative impulses: synergizing music, movement / choreography, film, performance, set/costume design, and allegorical themes resulting in a subtle, timeless and beautiful postmodern artistic masterpiece. Its visual and auditory gifts are perfectly suited for our resonant multi-level Sanctuary space and large screen. A short pre-screening talk by Rob Forman will provide context and background.
Book of Days is a film about time, originally drawing parallels between the Middle Ages, a time of war, plague and fear of the Apocalypse, with modern times of racial and religious conflict, the AIDS epidemic, and fear of nuclear annihilation. In light of the current pandemic, the cyclical nature of such phenomena has made itself known once more. While the film provides no answers, it nevertheless is a tribute to vision and the imagination, and a poetic incantation of that which connects us. Book of Days previously aired on PBS, was shown at the New York Film Festival and was selected for the Whitney Biennial.
Book of Days (1988, 75 minutes), previously aired on PBS, was shown at the New York Film Festival and was selected for the Whitney Biennial.
Conceived and Directed by Meredith Monk, Cinematography by Jerry Pantzer, Art Direction and Costume Design by Yoshio Yabara, Music by Meredith Monk, Produced by Catherine Tatge and Dominique Lasseur
A film about time, originally drawing parallels between the Middle Ages, a time of war, plague and fear of the Apocalypse, with modern times of racial and religious conflict, the AIDS epidemic, and fear of nuclear annihilation. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the cyclical nature of such phenomenon has made itself known once more. While the film provides no answers, it nevertheless is a tribute to vision and the imagination, and a poetic incantation of that which connects us. .
Meredith Monk is a composer, singer, director, choreographer, filmmaker, and creator of new opera, music-theater works, films and installations. Recognized as one of the most unique and influential artists of our time, she is a pioneer of what is now called “extended vocal technique” and “interdisciplinary performance”. Over the last six decades Monk has received numerous awards and honors including a MacArthur Fellowship and Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters from the Republic of France. More recently, Monk received three of the highest honors bestowed on a living artist in the United States: induction into the American Academy of Arts and Letters (2019), the 2017 Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize and a 2015 National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama. Fall 2024 marked the beginning of her 60th Performance Season. Celebrated internationally, Monk’s work has been presented at major venues throughout the world.