Fade to Play

One of the cool aspects about living in Vancouver is the opportunity to participate and learn about interesting urban opportunities in which people hack and re-interpret public spaces through art or play.

For example, Kristina Lee Podesva, a Vancouver-based artist has created a langarapublicart.ca project that is pretty cool. She is the inaugural Artist in Residence Program at the Langara College Centre for Art in Public Spaces.


According to the website:

The Langara College Centre for Art in Public Spaces was formed in 2008 as an innovative approach to the public art requirement of the City of Vancouver. The Centre has a mission to engage communities in the research, production and presentation of art in the public realm. The Centre encourages dialogue, and fosters opportunities to collaborate on, experience and learn about art in public spaces.

The 2008 – 2009 Program includes a public Speakers Series and Curriculum Development initiatives in addition to the Artist in Residence Program.

Project: This is a Vehicle

THIS IS A VEHICLE is a collaborative, online work by Kristina Lee Podesva, Artist in Residence at the Langara College Centre for Art in Public Spaces. THIS IS A VEHICLE represents one aspect of Podesva’s overall residency project, Vehicle, which re-purposes shipping containers as “reading rooms” and as discursive sites for thinking through the experience and phenomena of globalization. Similarly, THIS IS A VEHICLE invites participants to re-purpose everyday and not-so-everyday objects by imagining their new and uncommon functions

Dates: January 13 – April 21, 2009
Hours: Mon – Thurs, 4-8pm
Opening Night: January 13, 7pm

Location: Langara College, 100 West 49 Ave, Vancouver.

I am participating in the project by sending a couple of photos that I have reappropriated to info @ thisisavehicle.com.

This is a Vehicle



for

holding conference badges

Relevance: Public spaces should continually be re-mixed, hacked, and reappropriated by the public. Let’s keep urban spaces as people places.

Today I dropped by Raincity Studios HQ to hand in my old mobile for the Phones for Fearless Campaign. I was happy to participate and everyone that is a part of it (Kris Krüg (@kk), Irwin Oostindie (@dutchphoto), Jenn Lowther (@jennmae), Dave Olson (@uncleweed), Lorraine (@raincoaster), Lani, Hendrick, Roland Tanglao (@rtanglao), etc.) are doing a great job to let people know about the cause and motivate them to participate.

This is an excellent example of social media (e.g. twitter, flickr, blogs, facebook) combining with community organising to help those in need in the Vancouver East Side.

Twitter has done an awesome job in spreading the word. See the blogs of Monica and Dave Olson for proof.

The campaign runs until January. It isn’t too late to participate, so find an old mobile and donate to the cause! See here.

How can you help?

1. Your used mobile phones – preferably with video, camera, wi-fi
2. Cash donations (* tax deductible) or new phone donations
3. Conversation – tell your friends on your blog, twitter, etc. – post a badge

Relevance: Participation made me feel good. Love this city!

On Friday I followed on twitter as Kris Krug (@kk), the CEO of Raincity Studios, Dave Olson, Community Evangelist of Raincity Studios (@uncleweed), and Irwin Oostindie (@dutchphoto) used social media to generate interest in the Fearless City campaign.

The purpose of the Fearless City campaign (@fearlesscity) according to their webpage is for you to:

Donate your old mobile phones to help DTES artists share stories, and tap into life, jobs & family

How can you help?

1. Your used mobile phones – preferably with video, camera, wi-fi
2. Cash donations (* tax deductible) or new phone donations
3. Conversation – tell your friends on your blog, twitter, etc. – post a badge

You can schedule an appointment for phone pickup on Tuesday. Just @kk or @uncleweed on twitter or send an email to Kris (kris@raincitystudios.com).

Relevance: Cool to see the power of social media bringing locals together to help those in need.

Kris Krüg

One of my favourite conferences is called Nothern Voice. It is a social media and personal blogging conference here in Vancouver that occurs each February at the University of British Columbia.

Sunday Brunch at Havana

My Northern Voice 2008 Photos


Relevance: I love attending Northern Voice and I make new friends here every year.