Silly Circuits
Montreal Science Centre
From February 26th to March 6th, 2011
As part of the Montreal Science Center’s public event Technofolies, Molior presents a creative introduction to making an electronic sound circuit in workshops led by Valerie d. Walker, Rickie Lea Owens and Raphaëlle Frigon. The young public will be invited to jump into the Skip-Rope Habitat and play with colour via a skip-rope-triggered electronic switch, as well as experience the Winter Quilts created by Mouna Andraos, a triptych of electronic blankets inspired by the Canadian Winter.
Andrée Duchaine
Andrée Duchaine has worked in the visual arts area since several years. From 1974 to 1984 she was involved in setting up the video section at Vehicule Art Gallery and organized and curated VIDEO 84, the first international video encounters in Montreal. Mrs Duchaine curated several video art exhibitions in Europe, the United States and Canada. Between 1985 and 1995 she settled in Paris where she founded a short film distribution company. She worked with T.V. channels across the world.
Andrée Duchaine taught at Paris VIII, at the Université du Québec à Montréal and at the Ottawa University. In 2001 she founded a non-profit company Le Groupe Molior producing, curating and disseminating new media works.
Artists & works
Mouna Andraos
Winter Quilts
2010
Interactive installation
Description of the work
The Winter Quilts are three 8′ x 14′ electronic blankets inspired by the Canadian Winter.
Each quilt illustrates a different representation of winter and highlights some specific details about living and experiencing the natural environment in the coldest parts of the world. As seasons transform and climates change, these quilt might also one day become past souvenirs of the disappeared Montreal winters. The quilts were made using a combination of traditional methods and high-tech electronic components. Using the latest in e-textiles and soft circuits, the quilts sense the presence of people around them and their current environmental conditions and react to these through a multitude of small gestures and transformations. But they are first and foremost quilts: assembled one piece of fabric after the other and providing natural warmth and comfort when needed.
The project was created thanks to support by The Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Société des arts technologiques (SAT), Eski Studio and Bluesponge.
Biography
Working in the new media domain for over ten years, Mouna Andraos deconstructs everyday electronic objects and reinvents them with a touch of poetry, humanity, or humour. She aims to stimulate conversation and imagination regarding the role and the impact of new technologies in our world. By considering technology as a vehicle for social change, a major part of Andraos’ work has been developed around making her work accessible and by increasing the technological literacy of the general public. This approach is made possible by holding creation and electronic production seminars as well as publishing research findings and creation processes under an open licence.
Andraos holds a masters degree from the University of New York as well as a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University. She was a resident researcher at the technological arts centre Eyebeam (New York). The projects she created for the Montreal-based interactive production studio Bluesponge have received numerous prizes including the Best of Show at the South by South West festival, ID and Communication Arts magazine awards, and a CyberLion in Cannes. Her work has been presented at various European festivals, in Japan, and in North America including a recent exhibition at PS1/MoMA in Queens (New York). Andraos also teaches and has maintained a commercial practice. She currently works and lives in Montreal.
Rickie Lea Owens
Skip-Rope Habitat
2011
Interactive Installation
Description of the work
Skip-rope Habitat is an interactive video performance space made for cross culture encounters. Within the habitat, a cavalcade of 8-bit colour is projected, changing with each turn of the rope. The project creates a place where festival-goers can play and share skipping songs.
Biography
Rickie Lea Owens was born on the alkaline shores of Lac St. Ives, Saskatchewan. She is a multi-disciplinary artist who crafts frolicsome animated bombardments and freaky circuitry. Her artworks act as agents for play, acknowledging our physical bodies. Known for her video work and animation workshops, RLO has lately published a book of 8 games titled: Games You Can Play! (2010). Upcoming exhibits include a coin operated, 16mm film installation in the storefront of La Centrale/Galerie Powerhouse in the summer of 2011. RLO is currently lab technician at Oboro’s New Media Lab.
Valérie d. Walker – Rickie Lea Owens – Raphaëlle Frigon
Workshop: NonStrument
2011
Artistic Workshop
Description of the work
Designed to spark the flame of scientific curiosity with techno-crafty fun, Silly Circuits is an all ages artistic workshop that engages the group with fun, discovering and demystifying common electrical circuits. Using a circuit prototyping board and simple electronics, visitors may complete a 555 Timer based sound machine. Building the device, they will learn how to read a circuit diagram. NonStrument uses square-wave oscillations to sing out an audio response to our electrical potentials or how V/I = R might sound.
Biography
Valérie d. Walker, a technophillic transmedia artist, educator, media observer & commentator, with an environmentally-rooted, Fibres based art practice, is celebrating 12+ years (so far!) curating and animating The XX Files Radio broadcasts on CKUT 90.3 FM. A craft-artist who adores Tesla, VdW has been awed by the power of radio waves (& particles) ever since she built her first tube-radio in element
Rickie Lea Owens was born on the alkaline shores of Lac St. Ives, Saskatchewan. She is a multi-disciplinary artist who crafts frolicsome animated bombardments and freaky circuitry. Her artworks act as agents for play, acknowledging our physical bodies. Known for her video work and animation workshops, RLO has lately published a book of 8 games titled: Games You Can Play! (2010). Upcoming exhibits include a coin operated, 16mm film installation in the storefront of La Centrale/Galerie Powerhouse in the summer of 2011. RLO is currently lab technician at Oboro’s New Media Lab.
Raphaëlle Frigon is a Montreal-based artist, working at the juncture of biology and technology.
Her work concurrently explores ideas of dislocated information and identity-building processes.
She performed and exhibited in a wide variety of contexts since 2005, from abandoned buildings to contemporary art festivals.
