Spark Festival of Electronic
Music and Arts 2009
February 17 - 22, 2009
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN.
Douglas Geers & Ali Momeni, Artistic Directors
J. Anthony Allen, Producer
Phillip O'Toole, Technical Director
James P Hunglemann, Nightlife Curator
For one week each year, the Spark Festival of Electronic Music and Arts gathers creators and performers of new media arts from around the world to the
Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul (USA) to showcase their work to the public.
2009 Special Guests:
STEIM
STEIM (the studio for electro-instrumental music) is the only independent live electronic music
centre in the world that is exclusively dedicated to the performing arts.
The foundation's artistic and technical departments supports an international community of
performers and musicians, and a growing group of visual artists, to develop unique instruments
for their work. STEIM invites these people for residencies and provides them with an artistic
and technical environment in which concepts can be given concrete form. It catalyzes their ideas
by providing critical feedback grounded in professional experience. These new creations are then
exposed to a receptive responsive niche public at STEIM before being groomed for a larger audience.
Visit the STEIM website...
Evan Parker
Evan Shaw Parker is a British free-improvising saxophone player
from the European free jazz scene.
Recording and performing prolifically with many collaborators, Parker was a pivotal figure in
the development of European free jazz and free improvisation, and has pioneered or substantially
expanded an array of extended techniques. late-60s free jazz and distinctive playing. Critic Ron
Wynn[1] describes Parker as "[a]mong Europe's most innovative and intriguing saxophonists ... his
solo sax work isn't for the squeamish."
More on Evan Parker...
Kanta Horio
Kanta Horio studied acoustics and sound art at the Kyushu Institute of Design in Fukuoka,
Japan. He present audio performance using physical phenomena with electronic devices, kinetic
objects, and assorted self-built gadgets. In recent presentations he has explored installations
too. He has performed widely both internationally and throughout Japan. Alongside his performance
activities, he organizes some unique events such as “dorkbot tokyo - people doing strange things
with electricity”.
Visit Kanta Horio's website...
David Wessel
David Wessel studied mathematics and experimental psychology at the University of Illinois and
received a doctorate in mathematical psychology from Stanford in 1972. His work on the perception
and compositional control of timbre in the early 70's at Michigan State University led to a
musical research position at IRCAM in Paris in 1976. In 1979 he began reshaping the Pedagogy
Department to link the scientific and musical sectors of IRCAM. In 1985 he established a new
IRCAM department devoted to the development of interactive musical software for personal computers.
In 1988 he began his current position as Professor of Music at the University of California,
Berkeley where he is Director of CNMAT. He is particularly interested in live-performance computer
music where improvisation plays an essential role.
Visit David Wessel's website...
Douglas Ewart
The kaleidoscopic talent of Douglas Ewart has expressed itself in so many forms--instruments that double as sculptures, music that combines the traditions of four continents with fresh inventions, masks and costumes fit for rituals ominous or joyous, death-defying improvisations combining master musicianship and acting-that the whole might be mistaken for the work of a small culture rather than one man.
Visit Douglas Ewart's website...
Puzzleweasel
Puzzleweasel is the sonic output of Peter Dahlgren. Originally swedish, the puzzleweasel was brought up around europe in Zürich, Amsterdam and Stockholm and now resides in Aarhus, Denmark. Where he started churning out his music in 2001. Fueled by years of dance floor attendance at raves and jungle/ dnb venues he started sculpting away at his intricate take on beat programming. Quickly getting recognition for his uncompromising sound and overwhelming presence on stage.
Visit Puzzleweasel's website...
Wafaa Bilal
Iraqi artist Wafaa Bilal is a professor at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University. He has exhibited his art world wide, and traveled and lectured extensively to inform audiences of the situation of the Iraqi people, and the importance of peaceful conflict resolution. Bilal's dynamic installation Domestic Tension placed him in front of a paintball gun which people could shoot at him over the internet, 24 hours a day. The month-long piece spurred online debates and intense conversations, garnering the praise of the Chicago Tribune, which called it "one of the sharpest works of political art to be seen in a long time" and named him Artist of the Year in 2007. Newsweek called it "breathtaking." But it is the resulting dialogue that Bilal seeks, as an artist who feels he does not have the privilege to create work that is not political. In the face of a war that stretches on, the 2004 deaths of his brother and father, the violence in his own history, Bilal seeks to imbue his audiences with a sense of empowerment that comes from hope in the enduring potential of humanity. In fall 2008 City Lights published "Shoot an Iraqi: Life, Art and Resistance Under the Gun," about Bilal's life and the Domestic Tension project.
Visit Wafaa Bila's website...
More to Come!
Also Featuring:
Smith/Wymore Disappearing Acts, Danceband, Second Life Avatar Orchestra, Beatrix*JAR, and many more!
Want to know more about Spark?
News and Announcements for the 2009 Festival:
Want a peak behind the scenes as we put things together? Follow us on Twitter.
We are now accepting submissions for the 2009 Festival. You can submit online, or mail physical copys of
your work, but either way you need to fill out the online submission form first.
...more...
Due to the success of our "Spark Nightlife" concerts, we have expanded to include a second room for
ambient/chill/groove style works. The ruckus of the original Nightlife will continue (except now in a bigger venue!)
and NL/ambient will happen at the same time - right upstairs.
...more...
The 2009 Special Submission Category is: "Wearable Technology/Intelligent Fashion." Spark is very interested
this year to showcase computerization of clothing and related wearable art/instruments. We will hold our first-ever Spark Fashion Show, which will
combine a runway-style presentation with a session of short talks giving more details on the technologies and designs.
...more...
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Past Spark Festivals have featured a diverse array of guests, including Richard Devine, Alvin Lucier, Morton Subotnick, DJ Spooky, Scanner, free103point9, Smith/Wymore Disappearing Acts, Phillipe Manoury, Paul Lansky, and others.
Venue Details
The Spark Festival locations include many venues in the Ceder/Riverside area of Minneapolis.
The venues this year include:
- Regis Center for Art
- Ferguson Hall
- Ted Mann Concert Hall
- Southern Theatre
- Weisman Museum of Art
- Ultan Recital Hall
- Nomad World Pub
- Coffman Memorial Union/The Whole
- Regis Center for Art/InFlux
- And more.
Concerts
Over 15 concerts, 5 paper sessions, and 4 featured lectures are scheduled, including artists and presenters
from all over the world.
Spark NightLife
Two years ago we added "Spark NightLife" held at the Nomad World Pub, and we are happy to announce this tradition will continue.
Every night of the festival from 10pm to 1am (and later) we will take over the Nomad for a series of specially selected "club music
works," curated by JP Hungelmann.
Special Presentations
In addition to the panel session, artists from all over the world will present their work and research.
Events will include special presentations by some of our guest artists about their work, as well as demo sessions and workshops.
Submission Notification
The submission system is now online. Please note the deadline for works is postmarked October 31, 2007.
We will make the notifications as soon as possible.
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The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
