SUMMONING (NO WORDS) at Oxygen Art Centre
Summoning (No Words), an interactive sound installation built from the female voice, is taking up residence at Oxygen Art Centre this month.
The project is made up of original sung compositions contributed by a seven-member team of award winning Canadian female vocalists and composers. Local singers Allison Girvan and Bessie Wapp are among the singers that have contributed.
An interactive experience, participants will move through gallery and their movement will stimulate the women’s voices. Other contributors include Tanya Tagaq, Vandana Vishwas, Sandy Scofield, Andrea Menard and Mutya Macatumpag. Original spoken audio has been contributed by community members.
The project, conceived and designed by Nicola Harwood, is a response to violence against women. “It began as a response to the unsolved murders of Indigenous women on the Highway of Tears in British Columbia, but soon began to expand to connect women across continents. I have invited both emerging and established singers to contribute their voices, representing a diverse range of identities and musical worlds. Through this collaboration across race and culture, we hope to create a sanctuary atmosphere where the female voice will summon us to reflect and to heal.”
Open studios are planned Aug 11-13th from 10am – 5pm for community members to participate in creating the temple walls which will be made from fabric, using the Japanese technique of shibori indigo dyeing. All are welcome and no prior experience is necessary. The open studios are a time to share, reflect and join together working with these simple and beautiful, ancient dyeing techniques. Indigo dye is all natural and non-toxic.
The exhibition opening reception will take place August 25th at 7pm. An artist talk will take place August 26th at 4pm. The exhibition will run from August 26 – September 30th, Wednesday to Saturday, 1 to 5pm. More information regarding the project can be found at www.summoning.ca
