The Clapping Piece

‘The Clapping Piece’ is a series of filmed portraits of groups of Detroiters applauding in a very particular way in their place of work. In 2016 at the private view of Brown's exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) she met soul icon Martha Reeves. The conversation they had about her experiences with Northern Soul audiences at Wigan Casino in the 1970s has directly influenced the film ‘The Clapping Piece’. She related that the audiences applauded in a unique way – starting slowly, then building to a crescendo before stopping abruptly. This is called ‘The Wigan Clap’ and when performed it is a powerful and uplifting confirmation by an audience in response to a performer. By asking certain key individuals or groups in Detroit to perform ‘The Wigan Clap’ Brown wanted to find out what happens when the city of Detroit is the focus of the applause and to see if this can become a form of Soft Rebellion, running counter to more negative responses to the city, and acting as a form of positive rebellion against the situation it finds itself in. In June 2017 Brown visited Detroit for the fourth time and filmed 29 individuals and groups of people performing ‘The Wigan Clap’. Most of these groups or individuals are nonprofit organisations and activists working with the local community in a variety of ways, for example: Global Detroit (an organization supporting immigrant workers rights, positive impact and potential), The Empowerment Plan (aims to permanently elevate families from the generational cycle of homelessness), Alternatives for Girls (helps homeless and high-risk girls and young women avoid violence, teen pregnancy and exploitation), Detroit Horse Power (teaches urban young people to ride and care for horses as a way to develop critical skills that will set them up for future success), and Girls Rock Detroit (dedicated to fostering girls' creative expression, positive self-esteem, and community awareness through rock music education and performance). The result is optimistic, powerful and even humorous, showing another side of the city and the inspirational people who inhabit it. The footage shown represents the raw material and the basis for a multi-screened installation.