PREVIEW
ARTPARK
Saturday, August 4
Emerald Café
Artpark reimagines the city's arts community
More than 50 artists collaborate for multi-media high jinks
Imagine stepping into a room as big and beautiful as the Emerald Café and having your senses bombarded by activity – either sounds from the performance stage, intense visuals, the salon-style gallery, bizarre performance art, film screenings or the atmosphere in the lounging room.
There are no limits to creation other than imagination, and the imagination has become a reality with an event called Artpark.
It began in 1998, when three students at Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD) – Nathan Haynes, Damien Manchuk and Ryan Statz – combined their talents to put on a show called Skyscrapers, Robots, and Lego with the intention of exploring the idea of multi-media collaboration between various artists.
With paintings, visuals and a soundtrack of experimental electronica in the background, Skyscrapers started what has now grown to include more than 50 artists – the third instalment of Artpark, an evening of professional multi-media creativity, will take place on Saturday, August 4.
"We have gotten a bit older, more professional and more serious about what we want to do. We're putting a lot into it and getting bigger visions and bigger ideas. We can take it to that next level," says Haynes.
That includes moving the show from the attic intimacy of 421 Meredith to the wide expanse of Emerald Café downstairs. In addition, a new array of local musicians and artists have been invited to participate in the community event. There will be 10 video artists, 15 experimental musicians (most performing solo) and 30 visual artists who will have their works hanging on the walls.
Artists will include human beat-box and folk musician Tom Magee, performance artists Jade Rude and Rhean Murray, video artists Brian Batista and Brooke Bampton, and animation-comic artist Eric Dyck in addition to the two organizers. Haynes and Manchuk are not only responsible for hosting the event but are working artists and musicians themselves.
Haynes and his wife Nicola are Audioanomaly, an experimental electronic duo deriving influences from artists like Plastikman and Pan American. Their set for the evening involves eye-catching visuals and sometimes groovable electronic mayhem. Manchuk is the master of visuals and combines his work with Audioanomaly's set. His pieces are intricate and often colourful collages.
Hosting and organizing an event of this capacity requires Artpark's organizers to maintain a level of responsibility while allowing the artists the artistic freedom they deserve.
"We demand a lot more from the artists that way – to take a lot of pride in what they do. So we can look after them at the show and give them the quality and freedom of what they want," says Nathan.
The artists are provided with professional lighting and sound systems, all of which require a financial commitment from Haynes and Manchuk. Far from what some have assumed, the two are not making money on the event and are doing it to offer a forum for local artists in a variety of media to showcase their talents without the constraints of commercial representation.
"This allows Artpark the freedom of continual change, to eliminate boundaries and advance the artists in all fields. Although it would be nice to offer the artists some financial incentive for their work – maybe in the future," says Nathan.
The evening is open to anyone and everyone who is interested in experiencing what a new generation of local artists are working on. The event is also a partial fund-raiser, with 20 per cent of all ticket sales going to The David Suzuki Foundation.
"There is a signature underlying style of what you are going to see at an Artpark show," says Manchuk. "A live atmosphere... a friendly yet very activated environment. Hopefully (people) can come in and be comfortable... and be themselves. That's why we're doing it." |
