The Centre Turbine invites you to join us for the sound art performance, (GR)ONDES, which will be presented as part of the opening night of ELEKTRA festival: Thursday May 2, 2013 at 7 p.m. (sharp!) Doors open at 6:30 p.m., free admission!
Our time at school has marked the majority of us. According to Étienne Grenier, our most vivid memories of that time relate to sounds. The soundscape of this rich and meaningful period served as the backdrop for the artistʼs explorations which culminated in (GR)ONDES—a project that spans the fields of audio, installation and intervention art. (GR)ONDES was developed during a creative residency at Laurier Macdonald High School between January and March 2013. The artist carried out a series of artistic interventions in the school, involving students in the creation process.
The artist and students implemented a series of technological infiltrations using school apparatus such as the intercom and bell—normally used to establish a disciplinary framework— in non-intended ways. Specifically, the project involved producing Ubicoms, wireless audio systems which allowed them to capture the soundscape of one particular location and to disseminate it elsewhere. This made it possible to hear sounds from the locker area in the cafeteria, for example. Linking and even interchanging the various soundscapes broadcast over the Ubicoms allowed for the observation of soundʼs potential to alter our perception of a given location. Using recordings of these hybrid and interconnected sounds, made with the help of the students, the artist was able to create a sound map of the school.
This map served as the basis for the sound work we are proud to present at the opening night of the Elektra festival, Thursday May 2, 2013 at 7 p.m., at the Écomusée du fier monde. A short presentation of student sound compositions will be part of the program as well.
Étienne Grenier is a new media artist. His activities as a multimedia designer have led him to collaborate with partners working in the fields of architecture, theatre, lighting, dance and video. He has participated in various arts organizations, notably PRIM and Eastern Bloc and teaches at UQAMʼs École des Médias. He is also co-founder of Projet EVA, a creative collective that has become an organization dedicated to producing and disseminating electronic artworks. His artistic and design projects have been presented in the Americas, in Europe and the Middle East.
The Centre Turbine is an art creation centre involved in training, research, and the dissemination of contemporary artistic and pedagogical practices. It fosters a multidisciplinary approach by developing joint projects with various educational, artistic and community organizations. The centre offers spaces where artists and teachers can collaborate by way of training workshops, pedagogical creation projects, colloquiums, artist residency programs, and publications.
The ELEKTRA Festival offers curious minds and digital culture enthusiasts cutting-edge programming featuring outstanding works by international artists and local talent. Building on thirteen previous editions and a multitude of satellite events, this 14th edition of the ELEKTRA Festival—held under the theme ANTI/MATIÈRE (ANTI/MATTER)—highlights the multiple facets of digital art, through audiovisual performances and installations (sound, interactive or robotic), as well as a multitude of related activities: vernissages, launches, music video projections and awards.
(GR)ONDES received support from the Canada Council for the Arts and from the Libres comme l’art program, an initiative spurred by the Conseil des arts de Montréal (CAM), from the Conférence régionale des élus de Montréal (CRÉ) and from the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport (The Supporting Montréal Schools Program).
