VIX Sound+Light+Motion

Occupy Vancouver is my local chapter of a huge worldwide movement. I watched with interest the first week, then spent a Sunday afternoon on a committee working out a process to keep the general assembly organized and running smoothly. Then I volunteered in the clothing tent, helping to hand out needed warm clothing to protesters and disadvantaged individuals.

I have visited the site a few times and always witnessed peaceful, busy people building their homes. Food Not Bombs has been serving meals and many of Vancouver’s homeless population are better cared for than they have ever been. Remember that many people are living pay cheque to pay cheque and an interruption in their income can quickly lead to loosing their home. Homeless people are not always drug users or anti-social deviants, many are impoverished individuals who cannot find work.

A young woman died at the Occupy site — “a drug overdose victim”, reported the mainstream press. I don’t know if that is true, but I was saddened by this event. However, it it is not a justification to move against the protesters. I know that in Vancouver, most drug related deaths are not even reported, especially not as important news. There are too many of the hopeless people who turn to chemical comfort and find a final rest.

The atmosphere of the Occupy site reminds me of the “sit-ins”, “Be-ins” and other passive protests of my youth. One difference is the diversity of the protesters, as they range from babes to elders. I shudder to remember how those events usually ended with the authorities violently displacing the unarmed, peaceful crowd. I fear for the safety of the protesters. Once an injunction is granted in Vancouver, the politicians will move swiftly to remove the protesters before the upcoming election.

In my opinion, the Occupy Movement is not inciting revolution. It is representing a social evolution.

In North America, the population is literate and has access to the internet.

Although the attempts to “dumb down” the mainstream with television and pop tunes have generally met with success, the economic crisis has brought a sharper focus to society. More and more individuals who have suffered financial hardship because of the economic conditions imposed by corporate greed are reacting.

Members of the middle class, usually afraid to loose a comfortable lifestyle, usually in favour of maintaining the status quo that  supports them — now speak out.

In support of the Occupy Movement, I wrote and performed this poem, The Evolution is Being Televised.

The Evolution Is Being Televised – Victoria Gibson Nov3-2011

You can stay home people,
You can lock your doors, your windows, and your mind
But you will not be able to loose yourself cocooned in your media devices,
You will not be able to ignore the movement occupying our streets
A social evolution that is taking the temperature of our times
Because the evolution is being televised

The evolution is being televised
Brought to you on the eleven o’clock news
by those who would dismiss the dissatisfaction of the population.
The evolution is being televised
Brought to you on the internet from cameras and phones
by those who would insist on the message getting through.
Social evolution on a screen near you
The evolution is being televised

Work to find solutions on the scale of our problems,
Direct democracy with a human microphone amplifying the message,
Dare to join the general assembly of citizens,
Raise your hand
Against an economic system built on colonialism.
Raise your hand
Against inequality and corporate greed.
Raise your hand
Here your vote will be counted.
Raise your hand in agreement
and hear “we have consensus”.
The evolution is being televised

There can be no democracy when politicians are in the pockets of the corporations,
Using fear to perpetuate all forms of oppression,
Rejecting responsibility for the destruction of the environment.
The spin doctors use damage control on the crisis of the day.
Political pundits seek individual representatives of a movement that is run on consensus.
The evolution is being televised

When those who vote have no control over our nations,
Those who vote assemble in the streets.
When those who vote seek action on their problems,
Those who vote assemble in the streets.
The diversity of our population young and old together,
All have been cheated of economic security and opportunity,
All have witnessed the continued degradation of our environment,
All seekers of freedom live in fear of brutal suppression,
While assembling bravely in the street looking for a brighter day.

The evolution is being televised, being televised, being televised
The evolution requires your imagination
The evolution is streaming live.

Contact: Victoria Gibson

See my song: Government of the Canadian People written before the last Canadian election.

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This summer has been very eventful for me and some of the work that I have been doing is now posted on Vimeo!

Videos include my newest work: Kensington Mystery Man

Kensington Mystery Man from victoria gibson on Vimeo.

There is a film clip of the title sequence for Rise Up, Fallen Angel

Rise Up, Fallen Angel — Opening title sequence from victoria gibson on Vimeo.

Lisle Ellis said this one of his favourite visual parts of the show! That is quite a compliment considering the quality of art from the contributors around the world and Lisle’s dedication to his own visual art. This clip is really a display of my work in the visual and audio realms. I will be creating a documentary video of the event and my projection artist collaborator, Christina deRoos has posted a clip to her Vimeo account here.

Rise Up Fallen Angel from Christina deRoos on Vimeo.

The final public clip is a documentary of the work I did at EMPAC in 2010 — it is a work-in-progress showing of my Integrated Media Arts piece, Bandwidth. The video was edited by Julia Alsarraf, a colleague who also participated in the Media Lab at EMPAC.

Bandwidth at EMPAC 2010 from victoria gibson on Vimeo.

The EMPAC experience was very important to me in many ways, but meeting the other artists was a great inspiration. I am still collaborating with one of my other colleagues, Suzon Fuks, an Australian artist. She is launching her Waterwheel project on August 22nd! I have contributed some of my water video and will be uploading more photos and other material to the collection. If you would like to be part of my crew in the “Tap” section, please contact me. I would like to be a more involved participant in the project.

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After taking photos for a number of years, I have found a major interest in portrait photography. All of my photo and visual art will now be done under the name “Victoria G, Fine Imagery”

I know that I like to put commas in titles (Rise Up, Fallen Angel) and the design establishment says that is bad. I will continue my wayward comma loving ways, thank you.

Before the band, Five Alarm Funk, took to the stage, they asked me to send them any photos I took of the band. I told them I was not the official photographer, so I would not take photos of them, I was going to take photos of all the pretty girls. The young men in the band were very happy to accept copies of those photos instead, so I knew I had come up with a good idea.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

I am very busy right now because the Vancouver Jazz Festival is on — but today is the last day. I have to go and catch some jazz at David Lam Park.

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If you are not able to come to the show Rise Up, Fallen Angel — Please watch on the Center for Performance Research UStream channel.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cprnyc

This is a big night — we have had many technical challenges setting up 3 screens of projection and surround sound, then streaming it all on to the internet.

Tonight is our open rehearsal, see you there.

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Rise Up Fallen Angel – Thurs 5/26-Sat 5/28 – www.cprnyc.org – Brooklyn, NY from Christina deRoos on Vimeo.

I am in NYC working hard on the show with my collaborators.

Christina deRoos, my collaborator in the visual projection aspect of the show, made a video yesterday and posted it on Vimeo as a demo.

I hope you like it.

Click here to View on Vimeo.

Tickets available on Brown Paper Tickets Here — only $12.

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Rise Up, Fallen Angel

The ephemeral strands that connect us; a gesture, a sound, a touch – may trigger cascades of meaning.
A glimpse of something peripheral to the main event, catches attention, and is gone — slipping into the crowd. “Play the Moment Composers’ Collective” weaves together strands of light and sound to form a tapestry of improvised narrative. The integrated media exhibition, Rise Up, Fallen Angel, brings together a diverse collection of visual creators from many countries who have sent their angels through the internet. We invite you to a primal, emotional experience designed to create an organically resonant, sensory immersion. Satisfy the need for spiritual renewal and tribal ritual in a contemporary context; myth and symbolism invoked using the latest in modern technology. We seek to reinforce the resilience of the human spirit: rise up and overcome the problems we all recognize in our lives, our communities and our planet.

Download RUFA-blurb-final-150wd

The show will be awesome because of the wonderful artworks that have been submitted and the artistry of the Play the Moment Composers’ Collective.

Play the Moment consists of:

Paul Plimley – Lisle Ellis – Christina deRoos – Victoria Gibson

More information will be posted soon as I am working on producing a short demo of the show.

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   The Call to Artists for Rise Up, Fallen Angel is now officially open. The deadline is April 15th, 2011. We are seeking still or moving images relating to the theme. Please fill out the form below to submit your work after reading the call to artists: Complete details of the call are available here. Translation available at bottom of post.

Rise Up, Fallen Angel will be exhibited at the Centre for Performance Research on Thursday, May 26 through Saturday, May 28th. There will be an artist’s talk by curator, Victoria Gibson on Saturday afternoon.

The exhibit will consist of three screens with projected images placed in a non-linear improvised narrative and music from Play the Moment Composers’ Collective.

IMPORTANT: There is no text or language in the images or audio content.

361 Manhattan Avenue
NY 11211

Please sign up to submit your work. You will receive a confirmation e-mail letting you know we have received the form. If your image or video is not on a site where it may be downloaded, then please e-mail a small copy of the image or a description of the video to vixmedia01 (at) gmail (dot) com. If you have a problem with the form on this web page, please try this link.

Thank you for participating in the show,

Please read the full Call to Artists before submitting — by submitting this form you understand and agree to the terms and conditions in the Rise Up, Fallen Angel International Call to Artists — please click on this link to view or download a pdf copy  RiseUP-FallenAngel_Call-to_Artists3

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I will be singing with a improvising choir conducted by DB Boyco on Saturday, Feb. 19th at 6pm.

The event will be documented on video by an artist from Romainia who is commissioning it as part of a larger project. Everyone welcome to attend the event.

We are upstairs at the Western Front in the large hall.

303 East 8th Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V5T 1S1

I have not been updating much lately as I have been very busy planning an important event.

All will be revealed very soon.

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My latest composition, It’s The Same . . . But Different, will be performed as a work-in-progress at the Western Front, Vancouver

This performance is for everyone who ever wanted to see me use a megaphone!

I will be initiating and facilitating a spoken-word conduction with an improvising ensemble consisting of approximately ten musicians.

The rest of the program will be interesting too with over 20 improvising musicians playing more than 10 original, never before heard anywhere compositions!

It’s all FREE of charge!
Doors at 7:30pm
Concert at 8:00pm

Facebook Event Listing click here

Program of Events:

The New Orchestra Workshop Society Presents
The 2010 Now Improvisation Workshops
Concert

Conduction -
Playing Sound in Space Dave Todd
Phone Home Ken Tabata
Five Elements Thomas Anfield
Free improvisation -
For a Moment Roisin Adams
Computer Christopher Church Mike Dowler

Intermission

X John Rogers
Landscapes Gary Wildeman
Kibitzing – A Muse in My Ear Ian Migicovsky
Seven Windows John Deely
Same/Different Victoria
Power of Three Brent Cross
Free/conduction/free -

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Music and Spoken Word – Improvised, Intense and Infused with fun!

A variety of spoken word artistry provided by:
Max Kala
France Perras
Alice Hamilton
Eric Wyness
T Crane
Music provided by Paul Plimley, piano+guitar; Tommy Babin, upright bass; Phil Emerson, guitar and Victoria Gibson, notebook+vocals.

This event is part of a new summer festival presented by Visions Ouest Productions:
Un nouveau Rendez-vous d’été / A new Summer Rendez-vous
L’ÉTHÉÂTRE 2010

Jeudi 12 Août / Thurs. August 12, 2010

à/at
Auditorium Jules-Verne, Vancouver
5445 Baillie Street, Vancouver (at 37th Avenue, between Oak & Cambie,
close to Van Dusen Botanical Gardens). Skytrain Station 41st. Free parking.

20h00

Tickets : $16 presale online until 6 pm/ Prévente jusqu’à 18h00 ce soir
www.rendez-vousvancouver.com
or $18 at the door

There are two more nights of the festival featuring:
Friday August 13, 8 pm:
Screening of (English subt.) – L’ENFANT PRODIGE / THE CHILD PRODIGY Luc Dionne
Admission: $10 Tickets sold online
Bande-annonce / trailer <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3a3UkDD5gs>

Saturday August 14 – THE CLOSING NIGHT
Screening of PICHÉ, ENTRE CIEL ET TERRE / PICHÉ: THE LANDING OF A MAN
(English subt.) – Sylvain Archambeault
Admission: $10 Tickets sold online
Bande-annonce/ <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAPUeWCaS38&feature=related>
trailer

Followed at 10 pm by L’ÉTHÉÂTROPICAL with DJ Marc Fournier
Une célébration de l’été et un au-revoir à tous les artistes et bénévoles
qui ont participé à L’ÉTHÉÂTRE.

I will miss the extremely fun after party because I will be in New York city.

So you have to come to my show if you want to see me before I go.

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