Exhibition

12 September - 24 October 2009

Opening Reception + Artist Talks

Saturday 12 September   7PM

After School Special: a look at pedagogical practices from then to now w/Kristina Lee Podesva

Sunday 13 September  7PM
[Presented by FTW and The Winnipeg Free Museum, 3rd floor Artspace building]

Untitled Palm-Pilot drawing from the Lost Thoughts series / Mike Patten/digital print 2007

PLATFORM centre for photographic + digital arts is pleased to present the group exhibition, As the Sidewalk Bleeds, featuring: Eryne Donahue (Vancouver), Mike MacDonald (Mi’kmaq), Sandee Moore (Winnipeg), bpNichol (1944 - 1988), Mike Patten (Montreal), and Kristina Lee Podesva (Vancouver), curated by J.J. Kegan McFadden.

Featuring a mixture of video, digital prints, computer programmed artworks, and a website, this exhibition explores the creative misuse of digital technologies over the last twenty-five years. In his curatorial statement, McFadden [PLATFORM's Director/Curator] claims:

As the Sidewalk Bleeds begins with a conundrum: as an exhibition, the works presented use advances in technologies to question or repurpose the intended applications of such technologies. What is useful to the larger society is useful in an entirely different way to the individual artists who comprise this group. The fallout of misuse is heavily philosophical. If we re-trace the research and development of so much technological advancement, many stem from the proliferation of war. Battle, in all of its of forms, has led to the development of more household techno-gadgets than we might suspect: the camera (in all variations), the internet, alarm systems, televisions, baby-monitors, cellular phones, and so on …

In gathering work by these six artists under the notion of exploring digital technology as cultural artifact, the goal is to create a dialogue concerning supposed trends in avant-garde applications of technological advancements. Placed in this specific, temporary, framework the individual artistic concerns overlap and produce a larger conversation regarding: geo-politics, globalization, poetry, love, and the incorporation of media in the everyday. With such diverse approaches to digital media, As the Sidewalk Bleeds also presents various political acts. To go against or re-appropriate advances in technology for the purposes of an artwork can be seen as a fundamental act of resistance / revolution / advancement / foresight / etc. Furthermore, each piece acts as a personal meditation on navigating our media-saturated time.
Please join us for the opening reception + informal artist talks Saturday, the 12th of September beginning at 7PM. Refreshments will be served.

Stay tuned for future announcements regarding programming associated with As the Sidewalk Bleeds, including: curatorial tours, artist talks, and poetry readings taking place throughout September and October.

PLATFORM wishes to acknowledge the support of its membership, board of directors, volunteers, and staff. As the Sidewalk Bleeds is made possible with funding received from Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, The Winnipeg Foundation, and Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. Special mention is owed to our colleagues at Plug In ICA and aceartinc., and Kamloops Art Gallery for their generous in-kind contributions and technical support.