03 Sep 2012

The Long Time: 21st Century Art of Steele + Tomczak

The Long Time: 21st Century Art of Steele + Tomczak
Sept 7–29, 2012, Wed-Sat 12-6pm
1965 Main St, Vancouver, BC
Opening Reception: Sept 6, 7-10pm

The Long Time is a major exhibition of 21st century art by Lisa Steele and Kim Tomczak in video, photography and installation. This exhibition curated by Paul Wong features the work of long-time collaborators Steele + Tomczak who have produced an extraordinary body of work investigating aspects of the self for over 30 years. The two are recipients of the 2005 Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts, and have received honorary doctorates from UBC Okanagan and Steele from OCAD University for their significant contributions to contemporary life, art and politics.

The exhibition includes ...bump in the night (Vancouver), Becoming…, The Miniatures, a series of video objects and the premiere of before I wake…, the trilogy that has been in progress since 2000. The final segment Entranced (2012) has been commissioned by On Main and completes this epic journey to the other side.

The multi-screen installation, before I wake…, brings together for first time the long awaited video components We're Getting Younger All The Time, Practicing Death and Entranced. This monumental love story searches for the fountain of youth, surrenders to the idea of eternal sleep and crosses the threshold of the hereafter. It is poignant, chilling and deeply personal.

...bump in the night (Vancouver) is a series of life-size photo-text panels featuring students from the Native Education College. Previous versions include Caen (France), Stuttgart (Germany), Barrie and Toronto (Ontario). This site-specific project will be presented in partnership with InTransitBC (Canada Line) at Broadway-City Hall Station and in the storefront windows of 1965 Main Street.

Becoming…, started during an artist residency at VIVO Media Arts Centre in 2006. This four channel installation of urban architectural studies juxtaposing traditional views and housing styles with the radically new designs appearing in urban centers. Vancouver, the city of glass, is presented alongside Berlin, Toronto and Montreal.

The Miniatures is an ongoing series of small-scale video frames of loops, 1 to 1.5 minutes in length that play silently on small digital frames. Each combines scenes from the natural world with political slogans – Power, Make Love Not War, Free Speech, and May '68. The Vancouver exhibition will include the new miniature Extraordinary Rendition.

The 88-page full-colour book includes essays by Felix Vogel, Jim Drobnick and Jennifer Fisher, Michael Turner and Paul Wong. It is published by On Main and edited by Paul Wong, available September 6, 2012. The book is available online and via mail (ISBN: 978-0-9694777-5-4) www.onmaingallery.com.

This project is produced by On Main. The exhibition and parallel events are co-presented by VIVO Media Arts Centre. The VIVO Crista Dahl Media Library and Archive will feature a special selection of Steele + Tomczak's 20th century work including publications, ephemera and early video works. The Long Time kicks off SWARM 2012 the annual festival produced by PAARC (Pacific Association of Artists Run Centres).
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, City of Vancouver, Rick Erickson, VIVO Media Arts Centre, grunt gallery and InTransitBC.

Vancouver Exhibition:
Sept 7–29, 2012, Wed-Sat 12-6pm
1965 Main St, Vancouver, BC

Events:
Sept 6, 7-10pm public opening as part of SWARM 2012
Sept 6, 10-1am Video Bar+SWARM afterparty
Sept 8, 3-3:30pm and 7-7:30pm: Artist and Curator's Tours
Sept 8, 8-10pm: 'In Camera' talk with Lisa Steele, Kim Tomczak, Michael Turner and Paul Wong
Sept. 26, 7-9pm: 'On Becoming - No Reading After The Internet' with Michael Turner

For further information please contact onmain@gmail.com