Promiscuous Infrastructures (Phase II) aims to visualise/materialise Artivistic’s research practice and create an inviting space for others to reflect and participate. The exhibition/installation is based around four separate, but promiscuous spaces; a central print workshop for making zines, a research library, a meeting space, and a dining room. The typo/graphic message in Skol’s entranceway (pictured above) subtly describes the political context of the project.
For the weekend, a beautiful song by local songstress Claire Boucher, aka Grimes, and a beautiful video by my bud Emily Kai Bock.
Some views from the crowd during yesterday’s amazing mass protest against the tuition hikes. 200,000+, nous ne reculerons pas!
My first post as a contributing editor to Art Threat is up, a short piece on artist-run centres in Québec supporting the student strike movement.
I’ve been deeply inspired by the students here in Montréal and played a (small) role in initiating the mobilisation of local artist-run centres to support them. The initiative emerged out of a discussion held at Skol in the context of Artivistic‘s Promiscuous Infrastructures exhibition/occupation. The show has proved to be an extremely interesting tool in drawing links between cultural and activist spheres (we also helped out with this amazing street intervention), and here’s hoping this is just a sign of things to come!
Additionally, for my concerned clients, LOKi design will be joining the strike. Sorry, no work ’til Friday!
One of my projects in the Promiscuous Infrastructures show is a diptych collage that consists of all (well, most) of the posters I’ve designed for cultural/political events in the city over the last few years. Mostly for free… It’s a reflection on value and the affective relationships built through working together on things that “matter.” The city has given me so much, and these are my love letters back to it, made from paper, ink, flour, water and a touch of honey…
Making them was a cathartic experience, there’s nothing like tearing up years of work up and putting it back together again.
I’ve long resisted the label of “artist”, preferring that of “graphic designer”. Art carried too much weight and responsibility. As of Friday, it might sound silly, but I’m going start using the term artist, not out of any sense of pride, but as a form of active resistance…
The Artivistic collective‘s Promiscuous Infrastructures project enters it’s second phase, opening at le Centre des arts actuels Skol on Friday night (March 9th), and running until April 14th. I’ll be documenting/writing much more about it on here in the coming weeks, but for now I just wanted to let people know about the vernissage and show.
We’ve been working a long time on this, and it should be fun, hope to see you there!
Some teaser images on Facebook here.
