{jcomments on}

INTERACTIONS OF ART...                              Journalist: Myriam Sainson       

For the third activity of the project, after "Festin Aveugle/The Blind Feast" and "Eat your Sidewalk", we were invited to an experimental meeting with the New York collective "'Spurse", with artist-researchers, Ian Kerr and his partner Petia Morozov, within the framework of their resident project, with the Foreman Gallery of the University of Bishop' s. We found ourselves, on Saturday April 21, 2012, at the Café le Tassé, 426 rue du Conseil (at the corner of Murray Street), in the presence of Yael Filipovic, curator of the Foreman Gallery and Gentiane Bélanger, his collaborator and ten participants, for this particular project.

A visit to "Risquer l'art avec café" under the proposed theme suggested "Comment l'art enseigne/How art teaches?" where each person could, in their own way, capture all the energy of a multi-media presentation, according to an 8-point diagram of comprehension! This diagram outdistances the theory of the prestigious Guggenhein collective, (New York), through the personal approach of this non-contradictory couple, who would rather adopt the role of "Follower" than that of "Leader". Down a complex path, amidst an environment of constant change, all forms of knowledge and inquiries are directly exposed to the public.

We then witness an overflow, a deconstruction of traditional rules, which are normally associated with art, through art, arriving ultimately at a glimpse of what we normally conceive to be art. The articulation of concepts and paradigms must absolutely be considered, in order to bring about positive changes, in its initial stages, which could one day prove harmful, like pollution - the noise, the danger, the risk of....

Starting from a pre-existent problematic space, in a particular urban or non-urban zone, using humans or objects, researchers establish a diagnosis of the situation as it originally presents itself, apart from a laboratory, a museum or other place of research. As a group or under a microscope, the reports are drawn up with the aim of retaining a form of teaching and exchanges with competent public-experts, from the point of view of curiosity. This diagnosis can be supplemented over 5 weeks or more, to release a general synthesis of the pre-existent one. The researcher must then forget about concentrating on the development of a concept of change and set sail in the fog, for a period of time, before finding the tools necessary to stabilize the new situation and putting limits on what could be infinite. A period of unrest where all efforts are showing a positive effect is used as an engine of expectation.

"What can art in these circumstances create? What do the researchers use to compose with?" Each of these questions naturally brings about an awakening of the artist within us, on what we have become. It is this way for Ian Kerr and Petia Morozov, looking to realize what will be created, in 5 years or 5000 years... We are all collectively engaged, in this new reality and, we must start speculating...

In June 2012, Ian Kerr and Petia Morozov will lead us to the heart of their project "Mange ton trottoir/Eat your Sidewalk", with a feast over 7 days... an experimental encounter even more exciting than living with them....

Information: www.spurse.org or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (819) 822-9600, ext. 2279.

***

Photo 1: Ian Kerr and Petia Morozov during their presentation

Photo 2: Participants listening attentively ...

Photo 3: A diagram of eight points...

Photo credits: Myriam Sainson