The New York Society for Ethical Culture presents an evening of stunning, nature-inspired works by Eco-Artist-in-Residence Jody Sperling and her Time Lapse Dance ensemble. The program features the world premiere of Arbor, a work dwelling on the nature of trees. The work is the latest outgrowth of the long climate-engaged collaboration between Sperling as choreographer and environmental composer Matthew Burtner. The music will be performed live for this one-night-only event by the composer himself and a string quartet of musicians from The Met Orchestra.

The evening also features performances of other notable Sperling-Burtner collaborations. Wind Rose, which renders changing atmospheric patterns palpable to sight, sound, and touch, has been described as “a stunning, spinning white cloud that both moves and is moved by wind” (Karen Hildebrand, Fjord Review). Plastic Harvest creates a surreal spectacle of plastic proliferation. Concluding the program, Sperling offers her whirling solo Piece for a Northern Sky, a meditation on planetary motion which Jerry Hochman (Critical Dance) calls "a compelling piece, brilliantly executed." Collectively, the evening’s performances stir the senses and provoke contemplation about our relationship to the natural world.

The performance will be followed by an artist talkback.

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TLD Dancers: Frances Barker, Anika Hunter, Maki Kitahara, Nicole Lemelin, Jody Sperling, Sarah Tracy & Rathi Varma

MET Orchestra String Quartet: Bruno Eicher (violin), Sarah Vonsattel (violin), Mary Hammann (viola), Kari Jane Docter (cello)

Costumes: Mary Jo Mecca (construction), Gina Nagy Burns (textile artist), Lauren Gaston (Plastic Harvest)

Arbor is made possible in part by an ongoing eco-artist-residency at The New York Society for Ethical Culture and with the generous support of the Peck Stacpoole Foundation and with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.