For all group or individual reservation for the workshops, please contact adeline.dekeukelaire@champ-libre.org specifying the workshop you wish to attend, the establishment of which you depend (if pertinent), the full name of the participant or the person in charge of the group, as well as the number of reservations.

Friday 26th of September

Workshops directed by the creators of MENISCUS, the artist Patrick Beaulieu (Montreal) and the architect Philip Beesley (Ontario)


12h - 13h
Directed by Philip Beesley (in English)
(a): Organic Power workshop: Using elements of the 'Meniscus' installation, the artist will demonstrate how simple circuits can be generated by combining natural materials. Working with the audience and employing a large quantity of potatoes wired in series and controlled by a very basic microcontroller, vibrating and blinking effects will be demonstrated.

13h - 13h15
PAUSE

13h15 - 14h15
Directed by Philip Beesley (in English)
(b): Lightweight Kinetic Structures workshop: The artist will show a range of past works, demonstrating how work has evolved from large landscape installations into new interactive sculptures that use sensors, actuators and microcontrollers. Flexible and kinetic structures will be the main focus. In order to demonstrate the basic tiling patterns and assembly methods used within this sculpture series, Custom digitally-fabricated snap-together elements will be provided to the audience for demonstration. A large, flexible quilt-like surface will be created by collective action during the workshop.

14h15 - 15h15
LUNCH

15h15 - 16h15
Dirigé par Patrick Beaulieu (en français)
Présentation de la résilience et transformation de la matière éprouvée dans le travail de Patrick Beaulieu à travers un exercice de manipulation et d’observation de divers prototypes animés.
a. Influence des basses fréquences sur feuilles d’arbres et plumes d’oiseaux.
- Exercice de modulation de basses fréquences (via Tone Generator) et observation de leurs effets sur divers fragments de paysages déposés sur des haut-parleurs (Tremble, 2008).
b. Influence de la force du souffle sur de fragiles et volatiles ailes de papillons monarques et plumes d’oiseaux migrateurs (Souffle, Bruissements, 2007-8).
c. Influence de la force giratoire sur branches et racines d’arbres (Effritements, 2002 -)

16h15 - 16h30
PAUSE

16h30 - 17h30
Dirigé par Patrick Beaulieu (en français)
L’artiste abordera la notion de « zone de tension » dans l’œuvre Meniscus en citant 2 versions antérieures de Effritements soit :
- Samare présentée à la Fonderie Darling de Montréal en 2002 (échelle monumentale et rapport à l’espace vide/espace tension autour de l’œuvre).
- Amorfia présentée au Centro de la Imagen du Centre National des Arts de Mexico Cité en 2006.
Beaulieu abordera ensuite la notion de cueillette dans le processus de réalisation de Meniscus (choix d’individus, d’espèces et observation de leur transformation) : cueillette d’ailes de papillons monarques, plumes d’oies des neiges, branches en forêt et en ville (le cimetière des arbres urbains - Complexe environnementale Saint-Michel).
Finalement sera abordée la notion de « révélation », de dévoilement par l’emploi de microprocesseurs (via Arduino) dans Meniscus.



Saturday 27th of September
Workshops directed by the creators of PNEUS, the PNEUMA collective, comprised of the architect Patrick Harrop (Montreal, Manitoba), the artist and architect Peter Hasdell (Australia, England, Manitoba, Hong Kong) and the artist Sha Xin Wei (USA, Montreal) of the Topological Media Lab (TML).


16h - 18h
Directed by Patrick Harrop and Sha Xin Wei (in English)
Production workshop on Soft Architecture: practical presentation workshops and demonstrations of the approach to developing PNEUMA. This combined workshop will include a demonstration of the interactive programming for the pièce, as well as a demonstration of the development of air cells and will target an audience of art practitioners, practicing architects and graduate students in art, design and architecture.

18h – 18h15
PAUSE

18h - 19h
Round Table on Soft Architecture: This will be the third round table discussion initiated by PNEUS and TML in the fall of 2006 discussing broad cultural implications of interactivity, architecture and public space. The discussion format will be informal and will target a broad audience of academics, artists and thinkers.



Sunday 28th of September
Workshops directed by the creators of FALLING FOREST, thus the artist Michael Saup aka Quantengeist (Germany) and the architects Howard Davies, Randy Cohen and Anne Cormier of the Atelier Big City (Montreal)


17h-17h45

Atelier Big City will be presenting their works (in English)

17h45 – 18h
PAUSE

18h-18h45
Michael Saup (Germany) will introduce his early work (1990-2000) ranging from software art, interactive installations, light architecture and stage work. (in English)

18h45 – 19h
PAUSE

19h-20h
Atelier Big City and Michael Saup will explain the underlying principles of Falling Forest - Root Log in a Round Table. (in English)