We're all stars...

Video Pool and Urban Shaman Gallery are delighted to announce an evening of intimate conversation and rock shenanigans.

Curator Cathy Mattes will deliver a talk about her latest exhibition, Rockstars & Wannabes, in a venue certain to pull even the shyest of art lovers out of their shells and onto the stage! The significance of rock music on the construction of personal identity, and as a creative form of escapism, are just two of the relevant themes that Mattes will discuss. The capacity for rock to help us tap into our inner rock star personas is another. To draw attention to the energizing nature of such experiences, Mattes offers her talk with a night of karaoke, and all are welcome to participate.

So please join us!

Wednesday, November 7, 2007 beginning at 7:30 p.m. sharp
Club 200 (120 Garry Street, just South of St. Mary Ave)

No cover! We're going late!

Rockstars & Wannabes launched on September 29 with all the appropriate fanfare. This exhibition, which features work by Warren Arcand, Kevin Ei-Ichi deForest, Skawennati Fragnito, and Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay, is on now and is available for viewing until Saturday, November 10 at Urban Shaman Gallery (203-290 McDermot Ave). For more information, please visit: http://www.urbanshaman.org or http://www.videopool.org

"Help! I'm trapped on the roof! Bring coffee. Add soy."

That's just one of the many messages that has been conveyed across the Exchange, and beyond.

What else has been communicated? What have you communicated?

Relay is back up and running, and it's available until November 16. Send your message to 204.951.1929 and experience the experience of your ideas flashing their way to others!

Save the Date! Rockstars & Wannabes Curator's talk comin' soon!

The rock star vibe at Video Pool and Urban Shaman ain't over yet!

On Wednesday, November 7, beginning at 7:00 p.m., Rockstars & Wannbes curator, Cathy Mattes, will give a talk about the exhibition.

More details are coming soon, but we're telling you now so you can plan your attendance =-)

Sound+Vision...

Saturday evening’s performances were nothing short of stunning! The deft manipulations of audio and video feedback signals into captivating imagery in both presentations were tremendously absorbing.

Hattori’s first performance – a collaboration with Curtis Walker (blunderspublik) and Bryan Besant – featured a dynamic selection of local imagery captured from photos and videos, and harnessed as audio. The second performance, Abarekoinobori, with Yusuke Shinmura presented waves of abstract colours and sounds that filled and resonated within the room.

Video Pool is very pleased to have presented these compelling performances! Thank you to the artists, and to a wonderful audience for joining us!

Please click on each image for a slightly larger version...

No, still images sure aren’t the same as seeing –and– hearing these performances live, but hopefully they offer a hint. That being said, we did video record the performances. Maybe we can load a couple of clips up onto this blog, or onto YouTube.

What do all you people out there on the interwebs think? Should we go for it?

Stunning analog video effects and signal-generated noise this Saturday night!

Hi everyone!

Video Pool is very excited about two upcoming live video concerts headlined by our International Artist in Residence, Katsuyuki Hattori (Japan).

First, a collaboration with local artists Curtis Walker and Bryan Besant.
Next, the performance of Abarekoinobori with collaborator Yusuke Shinmura (Japan)



These performances will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 20 in the Winnipeg Film Group Studio, 3rd Floor, 100 Arthur Street.

For more information, scroll down... the press release is posted below =-)

These exciting, immersive visual and audio spectacles will captivate you! We hope you'll be able to join us!

As always, Video Pool is grateful for generous support received from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Winnipeg Arts Council and the Manitoba Arts Council. Thank you!!

Germaine Koh’s Exhibition Launch and Artist Talk

Last night, beginning at 6:00 p.m., Germaine Koh delivered a fantastic talk about her work, which surveyed her dynamic and varied conceptual practice encompassing performance, intervention, installation, new media, painting, and even knitting.

Following a lively Q & A session, attendees proceeded to try Call. The unique and satisfying experience of participating encouraged at least three more individuals came forward to join the list of volunteers. Owing to sudden unexpected technical difficulties, Relay was unavailable for use during the opening reception, but we anticipate that it will be up and running again very soon.

Thank you to Platform Gallery for welcoming Video Pool to host this event in its space, and thank you to everyone who attended!

Join us for Germaine Koh's Artist Talk Tomorrow @ Platform Gallery

Hi everyone!!

Video Pool here, writing to remind you about a two great events we’ve planned for you, both of which will take place tomorrow evening, Tuesday, October 16...

To launch her latest exhibition at Artspace, Germaine Koh will deliver a talk about her work beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Platform Gallery (1st floor, 100 Arthur Street). This will precede a reception beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Join us tomorrow and be the first group of lucky people to talk to strangers through Call, and to broadcast messages via Relay!

We look forward to seeing you!!

More information about Germaine Koh's project, "Relay"

Now that those handy lil' Morse code "decoder cards" have started to circulate around the city, the telephone number temporarily designated for Relay has been receiving calls. Potential participants are seeking more information, so we've updated the voice message to direct them here.

Things you might like to know about Relay, and how to get involved:

• Participation is open to anyone with access to a cellular phone capable of sending text messages (aka SMS). Regular message charges, as per your cell phone plan, apply.
  
• Relay accepts any text message sent to the designated telephone number (204.951.9129) as per the character-length maximums established between wireless carriers.
• Your message can be personal, or public in nature. That said, please be aware that it is visible in Morse code format to anyone who can see the light flashing from the roof of Artspace. Open access public broadcast is one goal of the project, after all.
• Neither the artist nor staff of Video Pool intervene physically -- we don't approve or reject messages.

Relay will be available from October 16 - November 16, 2007, so feel free to share your thoughts with the city as often as you wish.

Don't have a decoder card yet? Now you do! Click on each of the two images below in order to access and print them in full-size...

If you have any questions, post them as a comment, and we'll update this post accordingly =-)

Details for Germaine Koh's Artist Talk Announced

Hi everyone!

We now have all the details you need to plan on attending Germaine Koh's artist talk.

Thanks to the awesomeness of Platform Gallery, we are very happy to announce that Germaine will give a presentation about her work on Tuesday, October 16 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

The talk will be followed by an reception to launch Call and Relay, which will continue until 9:00 p.m.

Platform Gallery is located on the first floor of Artspace @ 100 Arthur Street. This event is free of charge and open to everyone so we really hope to see you there!

PS. If you haven't already had a chance to take in Platform's current exhibition, Soft Ground curated by Lisa Stinner and featuring work by Elaine Stocki and Sarah Small, then you're in for a bonus because it will still be up =-)

Coming soon! Three events headlined by International Artist in Residence, Katsuyuki Hattori

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Video Pool Media Arts Centre proudly presents
three events headlined by
International Artist in Residence, Katsuyuki Hattori

Winnipeg, MB (October 10, 2007) – Video Pool is pleased to announce two audio and video performances, and one artist talk, headlined by International Artist in Residence, Katsuyuki Hattori (Japan). Hattori is known for his skill using outmoded analogue technology to produce stunning audio and video landscapes in a live performance environment. Only occasionally using source footage, Hattori skillfully manipulates feedback loops to generate the source content for his immersive performances. Referring to his medium as abstract video-concert, Hattori will present a new work created in collaboration with two local artists – Bryan Basant and Curtis Walker (blunderspublik) – over the course of his residency at Video Pool. This live audio and multi-channel video piece is evocative of Dada artist Kurt Schwitters’ (1887 - 1948) notion of the colour organ and resonates with Schwitters’ concept of “merz”, which refers to the appropriation of found or refuse materials.

Following the presentation of this new, collaborative work, Hattori will perform a piece titled Abarekoinobori with long-time collaborator and video artist Yusuke Shinmura (Japan) who will sweeten Hattori's audioscape with playful bits and pixels. Together Hattori and Shinmura bring authentic experimental electronic art from Tokyo to Winnipeg audiences.

These performances will take place on Saturday, October 20 beginning at 8:00 p.m. in Winnipeg Film Group's 3rd Floor Studio, 100 Arthur Street, Winnipeg. All welcome.


Related Event – Artist Talk: On October 21 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Hattori will give a presentation on his ‘video concert’ technique. In his practice, Hattori allows for many artists to contribute to a live work, each controlling a particular aspect of image or sound from the feedback. Working with aesthetic qualities of image feedback, Hattori’s work challenges notions of beauty in image making, the role of the artist in image creation, and the contemporary roles of ‘performers’.

For more information about Hattori’s artist talk, or to register, please contact Jeff Erbach at 204.949.9134 ext. 4, or email: vped@videopool.org.


Video Pool is grateful for generous financial support provided by:




VIDEO POOL MEDIA ARTS CENTRE is a non-profit artist run centre dedicated to advancing the discipline of media art by providing media artists, non-profit organizations and community groups with access to professional video and media equipment, training, distribution and programming. Video Pool strives to be a national leader fostering innovation, experimentation, critical dialogue and advocacy in media arts.

Contact:
Milena Placentile, Programming Coordinator
204.949.9134 ext 1 vpprogramming@videopool.org
videopool.org // videopool.blogspot.com

"Call" and "Relay" Launch on October 16!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Video Pool Media Arts Centre
in conjunction with Artspace is proud to present

Call and Relay

two projects by internationally renowned Canadian artist Germaine Koh

Winnipeg, MB (October 4, 2007) – Video Pool welcomes residents of Winnipeg to talk to strangers via two intriguing new media projects by Germaine Koh.

Call is an interactive installation involving a hacked vintage rotary-dial telephone that connects immediately to one of several volunteers as soon as the receiver is lifted. Participants are invited to experience the unique opportunity of striking up a conversation about anything or everything with an anonymous individual at the other end of the line. Interpersonal exchange with other inhabitants of our city has never been easier, and when was the last time any of us took the time to hold a random and potentially meaningful conversation with someone new?

To connect with someone through Call, just visit the Artspace lobby. You don’t even have to dial!

Relay is a subtle intervention that combines the lonely signal of a flashing navigation beacon, city electrical systems, and the invisible communications networks that surround us. A utilitarian light fixture enigmatically flashes – in Morse code – short text messages (SMS) received on a designated mobile phone number. Locally, the light will operate as a sort of bulletin board conveying news from near and far, and providing opportunities for sociability and local messaging in the immediate area and across the city. The beacon merges early technologies for communication and navigation with some of the more contemporary methods by which information and desire flow today.

Share an exciting scoop, or just say hello, by sending a text message to 204.951.1929. From the roof of Artspace, your message will be conveyed to all.

Call and Relay will be available at Artspace, 100 Arthur Street, Winnipeg, from October 16 – November 16, 2007.


Related events – All welcome

Artist talk on Tuesday, October 16 at 6:00 pm, followed by an opening reception from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Platform Gallery, 1st floor, 100 Arthur Street.

Call and Relay are presented thanks to generous support provided by:





VIDEO POOL MEDIA ARTS CENTRE is a non-profit artist run centre dedicated to advancing the discipline of media art by providing media artists, non-profit organizations and community groups with access to professional video and media equipment, training, distribution and programming. Video Pool strives to be a national leader fostering innovation, experimentation, critical dialogue and advocacy in media arts.


Contact: Milena Placentile, Programming Coordinator
204.949.9134 ext 1
vpprogramming@videopool.org
videopool.org // videopool.blogspot.org

Thanks for rockin' out with us!

Wow! What a night!

If you had the chance to join us on Saturday, you know just what I'm talking about!

The evening started at 7 p.m. with a pre-reception for special guests including family, funders, and members of the media. At about 7:30 p.m., Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay burst into the gallery concluding the last stage of his performance, Jimmy, which involved him running through downtown Winnipeg carrying a flag designed to honour his hero, Scottish pop star, Jimmy Somerville. He placed the flag into a mount on the gallery wall, affixing additional ribbons in what created a moving ceremony.

At 8:00 pm, the gallery doors were opened to welcome rock stars, wannabes, and art lovers of all stripes. However, the party really got started when the the art stars of the evening (and their groupies) arrived by stretch limo!

Following words of thanks by the Directors of both Urban Shaman Gallery and Video Pool, curator, Cathy Mattes, added further acknowledgments. Applause filled the gallery.

The dynamic range of performance video works by Skawennati Fragnito, Warren Arcand, Kevin deForest and Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay, captured the attention and imagination of all in attendance. Some attendees were even inspired to launch into impromptu performances – thank you David Byrne, Slash, and Annie Lennox for adding your special touches to a night of fabulous art, music, conversation, and dancing.

Video Pool and Urban Shaman Gallery are grateful to the Canada Council for the Arts, The Manitoba Arts Council, The Winnipeg Arts Council, the Winnipeg Foundation, Culture.ca, and Canadian Heritage for their generous support.