The upcoming installation in the Arts and Humanities Colloquium series, taking place on Oct. 19, promises to be an unprecedented and exciting event. “Lo-fi and Wi-fi: Conjuring Creativity & Performance” is a multi-media presentation and will include video, musical performance, graffiti, audio, and much more.
The shell of the presentation was organized by Media Studies professors Marian van der Zon and Robin Davies, but creative collaboration with Honorary Research Associate Dr. Marshall Soules, and students Neil Scobie, Zoe Lauckner, Brent Pretty, Darrell Bell, and Denisa Krausova has shaped the event into what Lauckner describes as a “one-of-a-kind, mind-boggling [presentation that is] not to be missed.”
Though the content of the Colloquium presentation has been kept a mystery, the students involved in its development were more than willing to divulge the concrete skills they have collected throughout their experiences working with both the faculty members and each-other. Each of the students say that they enjoyed working closely with the faculty, and that the collaborative atmosphere was both fun and rewarding. Scobie, a twice Juno nominated, fourth-year Digital Media Studies student whose role in the presentation is to man the microphone for a time, as well as provide the musical backdrop, says it has been “valuable to work with people in different disciplines,” and that he has enjoyed mixing mediums and learning from the variety of skills the participants brought forward.
Lauckner, an established musician and award-winning journalist in her fourth-year of Creative Writing and Digital Media, will direct the video screens and partake in vocal improvisational performance with van der Zon. She says, “at VIU we are lucky to have such an intimate setting [where we] become not only colleagues with professors, but friends.” She says that she has also enjoyed working with people in other disciplines and gaining perspective about the organizational process of the event, which she credits to working closely with the faculty members.
Pretty, a filmmaker/videographer, musician, and documentarian in his third year of Digital Media Studies who will narrate his pre-produced video-vignette as well as encourage audience participation in the presentation, says it has been motivating to see how the professors overcame the obstacles that arose during the development of the event. He says their dynamic of problem-solving is much different than that he has seen when working with students, and that he plans on adopting the direct and forthright approach and applying it to future student projects he is involved in.
Bell, a fourth-year Graphic Design major whose role in the presentation is that of “the man behind the curtain,” says he also has learned valuable analytical skills from working with van der Zon and Davies. He says the fast paced progress of the presentation has forced him to become “focused on pairing down and clarity,” and allowed him to develop his efficiency, resulting in “solutions that are gratifying.”
Krausova, who has worked in visual production and documentation at various Vancouver Island music festivals and also actively contributed in work for a non-profit organization in the Czech Republic, is in her third-year of the Digital Media program. She will provide pre-produced material and work with the screens, as well as operate the video-streaming device for the presentation. She says she is really glad to be a part of the presentation, and that she wants to continue pursuing the ideas that have been brought forth during its development.
All of the students agree that the experience has been an opportunity to learn from each-other as well as showcase their own individual strengths and passions. Scobie says that his favourite part of the experience was to see “everyone bringing a lot of talent to the production.” Lauckner agrees and adds that she has enjoyed “seeing it evolve from a seemingly abstract idea to a really exciting piece.”
Pretty also has valued the convergence of the various specialties as well as the growth of the presentation, and says he has appreciated “how weird this presentation is,” and how it is “so loosely defined [and] takes everything we study… and throws it together” to create something totally new.
Bell jokes the part he liked best was to have Davies solve some of the problems that arose instead of being graded on how he solved them himself, and says he has liked being a part of helping ideas take shape.
Krausova says her favourite part is coming, and that her excitement grows as the presentation still evolves and changes. “It’s really inspiring,” she says.
Based on the multitude of creative personalities and vast array talents that have come together, there is no doubt that the presentation will be just as invigorating and influential for audiences as building it has been for the students. “Lo-fi and Wi-fi: Conjuring Creativity & Performance” will take place in the Malaspina Theatre (bldg. 310) on the Nanaimo Campus on Fri. Oct. 19 from 10–11:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome to watch the event unfold, and audience members are encouraged to bring their smartphones, android devices, and tablets to participate in the multi-media conversation. If you aren’t able to make it on campus, you can watch the live stream at <www.ustream.tv/ channel/media-studies-viu>. Check out <www.thenav.ca> for further links regarding event information.
for more information, visit:
Live stream link http://www.ustream.tv/channel/
Lowfi & Wifi Website: http://mediastudies.viu.ca/
Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/
