April 10, 2011

ReGeneration: open call

“Cities bear some similarity with other complex biological systems that are sustained by resource distribution networks, such as the circulatory or vascular systems. But there also are fundamental differences that make cities uniquely human: social interactions and the concentration of economic and cultural activities in larger cities lead to an acceleration of time – and greater rates of innovation.” Santa Fe Institute

Northern Lights is pleased to announce a collaboration with the New York Hall of Science to present ReGeneration, a summer-long exhibition debuting in 2012 with related programming in and around NYSCI. In total, ReGeneration will engage 14 artists or artist groups in creating and presenting work that explores the connection of cultural vitality to immigration, urbanization, and sustainability through the intersection of art, technology and science.

A number of the projects to be presented will be selected on the basis of an open call and juried by Anne Barlow, Art in General; Steve Dietz, Northern Lights; Larissa Harris, Queens Museum of Art; David Harvey, American Museum of Natural History; Jennifer McGregor, Wave Hill; Amanda Parkes, NYU + Columbia; and Eric Siegel, NYSCI.

The deadline for the ReGeneration open call is May 2, 2011. More information about the call and exhibition here and here.

Northern Spark: 100 x 250 x 500 x 50 x 510

We get a lot of questions about what exactly is Northern Spark. One way to think of it is as a multi-dimensional data viz question, I suppose: More than 250 artists will be presenting 100 projects with close to 500 participants sponsored by at least 50 organizations for 510 minutes from dusk (8:58 pm) to dawn (5:28 pm) on Saturday, June 4 till Sunday June 5. The unknown dimension is you! How many will show up to listen to Chris Kallmyer’s
and Phillip Blackburn’s kick off fanfares in Minneapolis and St. Paul? Do you want to participate in Piotr Szyhalski’s Empty Words (so that we can do our living) a nine-hour, participatory, multimedia event—part poetry reading, part dance, parade, and concert—constructed around the collective reading of “Empty Words” by John Cage. Or read an historical vision for the present as part Red76′s Follow the Light. Let the Light be Your Guide. Or be interviewed by students from Washburn High for Ali Momeni and Jenny Schmid’s Battle of Everyouth at the MIA. Or maybe you just like to watch: Rigo 23′s Oglala Oyate at All My Relations Art of NACDI; Andrea Stanislav’s Nightmare on the Mississippi; Dark to Light: A Short Film Festival at the St. Paul Central Library; or Bart Buch’s Nature Boy (remix) at the Science Museum. If it’s listening you like, don’t miss the headphone concerts at the Walker from midnight to 3 am. And don’t worry, if you get tired in the middle of the night, Grace Minnesota’s The Lullaby Project will sing you gently to sleep to rejuvenate in time for the dawn pancake breakfast at Intermedia Arts.

Volunteer for Northern Spark

One of the best ways to participate in Northern Spark is to volunteer some of your time and talent and enthusiasm. We are seeking energetic individuals to assist with artistic, communication and logistical needs throughout the Twin Cities. Every volunteer who commits to a three-hour shift will receive a t-shirt designed by Matthew Rezac, have their name listed on the Northern Spark website, and will gain a unique and invaluable experience! To find more details about the various positions and sign-up, please visit our volunteer site.