September 2009
We just added the final projects to Vague Terrain 06: Locative last night and are thrilled to have this issue complete and back online. Locative (launched in June 2007) was an important issue for us as it was our first experience with a guest curator and our local peer (and now good friend) David McCallum did a fantastic job. David showcased a thoughtful range of projects that carefully considered mobile technology as a medium for creative exploration. The issue includes work by: Context Photography (whose work is pictured above), Evamaria Trischak, Jeremy Hight, Knifeandfork, Marc Tuters, Michael Lenczner, Patricia Rodriguez, Sawako and ssim-el. An excerpt from David's introduction to the work: What changes when we take it with us? The parameter is space, or place. The term locative, in many ways, gives one the impression of a device with some artificial intelligence that allows the little thing—if I'm forgiven to personify our cute gadgets—to know something about the space in which it's situated or moving through. Of course, artificial intelligence, especially confined to the current power of mobile processors, is nowhere near smart enough to truly understand anything about space. It cannot contextualise the same way that you or I would if placed in a foreign space. What it does do is give us information based on the space according to the parameters and design that we've set up for it. It doesn't give us information outside of the media we've chosen, but this still allows for a great amount of surprise and discovery. Vague Terrain 06: Locative is archived here.
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[Alejomen / Caracas, concreto de mil colas.] A few weeks ago we were tipped off about 2min15 a new video blogging project dedicated to archiving "urban life in different cities around the world." The project has a few simple guidelines:
...and of course it goes without say that this is a creative, rather than commercial project. If you'd like to get involved contact dosquince@gmail.com for more information—it sounds as if the 2min15 project is looking to build up a roster of international contributors. |
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Send + Receive: a festival of sound [version 11] send + receive: a festival of sound will celebrate its eleventh year this October 13-17, 2009. For over a decade, send + receive has produced one of the few annual media arts festivals in North America focusing exclusively on sound-based work. It has become an invaluable opportunity for showcasing the innovative work of Manitoban, Canadian and international artists, offering a rare critical platform for audio art in Canada. In past years, we have hosted performances and workshops from the likes of Oren Ambarchi (Australia), Aki Onda (Japan/USA), Lee Ranaldo (USA),Tim Hecker (Canada), OVAL (Germany), Kaffe Matthews (UK) Jason Kahn (Switzerland), Martin Tétreault (Canada) and countless others, providing a unique opportunity for Winnipeg's creative media arts community to experience internationally established artists of a high calibre in an intimate environment. For send + receive [version 11] this fall, we have invited several Canadian and international sound artists to participate as performers and speakers, and confirmed participants include world renowned sound artist Francisco Lopez (Spain), electronic artists from the Anticipate label Mark Templeton (Edmonton/Canada) & Ezekiel Honig (USA), Montreal based small object manipulator Magali Babin (Montreal/ Canada), scent + sound artist Heribert Friedl (Austria), percussionist Jeffrey Allport (Vancouver/Canada), prolific electronic artist Machinefabriek (Netherlands), noted American sound artist Stephen Vitiello (USA), trumpeter Nate Wooley (USA) and possessor of the ‘howling voice’ Ami Yoshida (Japan). Live performances will take place at Urban Shaman Gallery and the University of Winnipeg’s Eckhardt Hall. Please visit this link for more info. |
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This year AGYU commissioned a series of audio works by artists for our new series Audio Out. The series begins with Jessica Thompson, who relives her days of York with an interactive sound installation sampling everyday noise from the busy hallways. Jon Sasaki, just getting warmed up, eavesdrops on AGYU’s neighbouring music students, Gwen MacGregor and Lewis Nicholson patiently mark the passing of time with their new collaborative work, and Janice Gurney will be meditating on meditations. Wrapping it up in April, fourth year Fine Art students will produce a compilation of audio works directed by professor Marc Couroux.
The AGYU is located in the Accolade East Building, 4700 Keele Street Toronto. Gallery hours are: Monday to Friday, 10 am–4 pm; Wednesday, 10am–8 pm; Sunday from noon–5 pm; and closed Saturday. Admission to everything is free. Please see yorku.ca/agyu for more info.
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It’s hard to believe that the 2009 incarnation of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche is just around the corner. Happening this Saturday, October 3rd from 6:55pm to sunrise, this year’s catalogue of art-related debauchery is looking pretty good. Zone A, in Downtown North — most of which is accessible by the Yonge-University subway line — features 53 projects, some curated by Gregory Elgstrand and others by Thom Sokoloski. Here’s what I think you should make a point to see. (Images and descriptions lifted from the Nuit Blanche website.) It all starts on October 3rd at 6:55pm.
Larry Sefton Park
A little bird told me that this chorus will feature volunteers who do not necessarily have vocal skills. Obviously this needs to be witnessed.
Battle Royal, 2009 Toronto Coach Terminal
Honestly, I can’t explain why I want to see this. The printed catalogue didn’t include the last paragraph that indicates audience members will be participating; I think this adds a whole other dynamic that may be even more painful to watch. It sounds brutal and violent, and I am ashamed by my own curiosity.
[Cesar Forero, Home and Jungle, 2004] Artscape Wychwood Barns 601 Christie Street I am recommending Artscape Wychwood Barns as an entire venue because they have five independent projects that all seem compelling and worth checking out. There’s Home Sweet Hogar, a group exhibition that is part of the Allende Arts Festival; Things With Wings, a large-scale sculpture exhibition by Charmaine Lurch; sound(e)scape by Darren Copeland and Tree Prosthetic Project by Jane Tingley, both sound art presentations; Memoir, a video installation by Peter Horvath; and a group exhibition called 1001 Stories. The photo above is from Home Sweet Hogar. There is lots of other stuff happening in Zone A (click here for a map), of course. Obviously Nuit Blanche is partially intended to be a psychogeographic experience, but in the past I’ve found it best to plan for the things you really want to see. Otherwise, you might never get to them! Originally posted at: http://www.marissaneave.com |
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How do I pick just three for Zone B (Downtown South)? Curated by Jim Drobnick and Jennifer Fisher of DisplayCult, and accessible by the Yonge-University subway line (start at Union) this zone is packed–and I mean packed–with a ton of multimedia, performance, installation and sculpture by some of Canada’s (and the world’s) best known artists, including Rebecca Belmore and IAIN BAXTER&. I won’t waste another minute. Here’s what you need to see. (Images and descriptions lifted from the Nuit Blanche website.) It all starts on October 3rd at 6:55pm.
Monopoly with Real Money, 2009 TMX Broadcast Centre Gallery,
This project is timely, perfectly suited to its zone and somehow manages to make watching a game of Monopoly sound immensely enticing.
Wild Ride, 2009 Bay Street
No additional comment necessary except to say that those carnival-induced screams out of Bay Street are sure to be blood-curdling.
NO, 2009 Temperance Street (East of Bay Street)
Hello. Did you read that last sentence? This is some mysterious business. The only clue we’re given is that it’s a sculpture. I won’t even attempt to imagine what it might be. I will just try to be there at 6:55pm when it is unveiled. Anticipation! Seriously, I could go on and on. Anna Friz’s Respire, Dan Mihaltianu’s Vodka Pool, Marcia Huyer’s Wasted Breath... Spend a lot of your evening here. Originally posted at: http://www.marissaneave.com |
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