SioArt.com » Group Projects

Chester Cycle 2010

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 23:50:00 +0000

In May 2010 I had an amazing opportunity to work as a carpenter on the scenic production of the Chester Cycle 2010. Working with a crew of seasoned veterans and energetic volunteers in a period of three weeks we built and installed three towers at the Victoria Campus, University of Toronto, which served as a stage and backdrop for the plays. Our second task was to restore seven wagons which served as a portable stage for different performance troupes and the sets they brought with them. Last but not least we created the set for the Graduate Centre for Study of Drama used to perform “Trial and Flagellation, The Crucifixion.”

The Chester Cycle 2010 picks up from 1572 having been banned after a Protestant preacher Christopher Goodman wrote to Queen Elizabeth I demanding that the plays be banned because in his opinion they cause ‘peril and danger to her majesty’. Until then the citizens of Chester performed their ancient Catholic cycle of Biblical plays each year at Whitsuntide starting with the Fall of Lucifer before Creation to the Last Judgment. Each episode was performed on a wagon and rolled through the city streets in a three-day celebration of the old religion.

Over the course of a weekend 300 performers from Canada and United States performed 23 plays on each of the three stations set up at the Victoria Campus, University of Toronto. It was an amazing experience where I was able to learn new skills in project management, scenic design and production while expending my understanding of the history of theater.

For more information on the Chester Cycle 2010 please Click Here.

For images of some of the other plays which took place during the cycle pleas Click Here.

Chester 2010 Production Staff

Steering Committee – Peter Cockett, Stephen Johnson, Alexandra Johnston, David Klausner,
Helen Ostovich, Linda Philips, Jennifer Roberts-Smith

Production Designer – Paul J. Stoesser

Production Manager – Julia Gaunt-Rannala

Technical Director – Teo Balcu

Wainwright – Chris Warrilow

Carpenter – Sio

Graphic Artist – Louis Schreyer Daurte

Webmaster – Diane Jakacki

Publicity – Sasha Kovacs

Symposium Assistant – Luella Massey

We Made a Deal with the Devil

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:24:07 +0000

The Tour

Methinks Presents: “We Made a Deal with the Devil was inspired by “La Chasse-galerie” a cautionary French-Canadian legend. The tour was comprised of two major traveling exhibitions:

1. Portable drawing exhibition via “Portage Gallery” displayed works by over 100 artists

2. “The Players – Women” my poster style painting

Visitors of this event encountered a portable drawing exhibition, a zine library, installations, performance art, live music and other work by over 100 artists.

Team:

Ryan Ringer – leader, outreach
Andrzej Tarasiuk – Portable art exhibits design/build/maintenance, payload maintenance
Alex Bowron - Urban study, outreach, cook
Karol Orzechowski – musician, official photographer, outreach
Lisa Keophila – Iconographer, Zine library maintenance/sales
Rick Kresta – Documentary filmmaker, show lightning and rigging

The Encampment

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:04:01 +0000

The Event

“The Encampment was presented in part by the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) as a cultural initiative of its 50th anniversary to bring national awareness to the inclusion of people with an intellectual disability…This massive glowing optical artwork was visible to those visiting the work, and also from the National Gallery of Canada, U.S. Embassy, Chateau Laurier and Parliament Hill. It was an installation of exceptional scale.”*

My Contribution

In “The Encampment” project I explored my ideas on the nature of medical institutions for people with an intellectual disability. Through research material provided by the organizers and discussions with other creative collaborators, I created a temporary installation expressing my views on the the subject.

*Paraphrased from the Encampment Website The Encampment was conceived by Thom Sokoloski. A Studio SM creation (Thom Sokoloski & Jenny McCowan)

The Vendart Project (2005 – 2007)

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:15:45 +0000

The Vendart Project Statement 2007

“The Vendart Project” created alternative systems of disseminating and promoting Art and Ideas within the public sphere. There was no censorship and no filtration on the work submitted, as long as the person submitting took full responsibility for their work. All work was cataloged and one piece from each body submitted was archived.

We reached a wide audience through our public installations giving exposure for the participants. We felt that in order for society to move forward there must be an active body of people willing to participate in its development without money as the motivating factor. It was not about profit but the exposure and accessibility of Art and Ideas in the public sphere.

The Vendart Project units:

The Exchange Units (Pink and Yellow Exchange Units) allowed the general public free access to Art and Ideas. Art and Ideas were placed in zip lock bags ready to be taken. The units were equipped with a sound/light system, and an art drop off and donation boxes. Since these units were fully portable we distributed art in a variety of locations.

The Performance Units (Portable Wall Unit) were portable multi-purpose spaces. Lightweight walls were assembled into various sizes and types of spaces depending on the number of walls carried to site. This unit was utilized for Public Archival Display Installations.

Installation Types

Performance Installation: A public happening by an individual or a group with the use of one or a combination of different units.

Kids in Suits Installation: Having fun, playing and performing childhood games and activities as a means of generating a public happening.

Portable Archive Installations: Designed to display The Vendart Projects archives publicly in various locations in order to promote the project’s participants. The Performance Unit was utilized for this type of installation.

Art Making Station Installations: Encouraged the general public participation in the project and the arts. When fully set up people sat down and created Art and Ideas with the materials and tools provided. Each participant had the option to keep the work and/or have it archived and/or to donate the work to the project for future distribution. The Exchange Units were incorporated into these types of installations.

What Do Kids Think Installation: Extension of the Art Making Station specifically designed for children.

The Vendart Project Team:

Andrzej Tarasiuk – Co-founder, Director (January, 2005- present)
Anja Capel – Public Relations (February 2005 – 2007)
Markus Mazurek – Design, Corporate Identity ( Sept 2004 – 2007)
Alvaro Gonzalez – Website Development (October 2004 – 2007)
Maria Pantow – Advertising/Promotions (March 2005 – 2007)
Kevin Moore – Archives (March 2005 – 2007)

Vendart (2003 – 2004)

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:05:38 +0000

Vendart Statement 2004

Vendart was a local attempt at making the general public aware of the diversity of expression present with in and outside of Toronto. This project was initiated to challenge people’s notions on viewing, acquiring and interacting with art and ideas in order to broaden communication and understanding between the people of this city, country and the world.

In order to accomplish this goal we put a creative twist on the vending machine system of distributing goods to the public by coming up with three different ways of putting art and ideas in a public space – Entertainment, Exchange and Purchase.

Vendart units were public art spaces, where art and ideas had a new voice outside the gallery and media circuits. These units created entertaining sculptural playgrounds any where they were placed.

Vendart units

The Exchange Unit allowed the general public free access to art and ideas. The exterior paint (pink), and interior lights and sound system was designed to attract the public. When the unit was opened the sounds were amplified and the viewer found him/her self in front of art and ideas placed in zip lock bags ready to be taken. The unit was also equipped with an art drop off box and a financial support box for those who wished to contribute something towards the project. Since it was fully portable we were capable of distributing art anywhere at anytime.

Most work was archived…

The Entertainment unit was capable of showing the viewer the diversity of expression present within Toronto and other cities. It did this through various ways of projecting images and sounds (TV, speakers, video/digital projectors, etc.) into a public space (intersections, buildings). This type of unit was built with the idea of it being fully mobile. (First Vendart unit ever built, displayed and dismantled at the Burning Man festival.)

Vendart team:

Lukasz Orwinski – Root Concept, Co-Developer/Director (June 2003 – Jan3, 2005)
Andrzej Tarasiuk – Co-Developer/Communications (June 2003-Jan3, 2005)
Travis Gledhill – Technician (June 2003 – Dec 2003)
Yarek Waszul – Website Development, Corporate Identity (Jan 2004 – Oct 2004)
Lorena Salome – Co-Developer/Archives (Feb 2004 – Sep 2004)