Urban Field Speakers Series 2007

Programmed by Janine Marchessault and Scott McLeod and presented by Prefix Institute of Contemporary Art in association with the Visible City Project and Archive of York University.

The Urban Field Speakers Series centres on the role of art in transforming the experience of the city. Through lectures, audio-visual presentations and discussions, it explores how creative practices can help improve the quality of urban life and planning in Toronto and around the world. This series of monthly events brings together an array of international and local participants, including artists, architects, curators, designers and scholars, who are working at the intersections of technology, communications and aesthetics. Reflecting a broad range of perspectives and practices, the events build upon each other to inspire dialogue on the role of the city in art, and art in the city.

February 1, 2007 at 7:30 PM
Maaretta Jaukkuri
Saara Liinamaa, moderator

The Chief Curator of the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art (Helsinki) speaks on the notion of public time. Moderated by Saara Liinamaa, writer, researcher and doctoral candidate in the department of social and political thought at York University.

March 1, 2007 at 7:30 PM
Hedwig Fijen
Luis Jacob, moderator

The Executive Director of the Manifesta Foundation (Amsterdam) speaks on the challenges of mounting an itinerant contemporary art biennale. Moderated by artist Luis Jacob.

April 4, 2007 - CANCELLED
Note Programming Change: Due to the volatile political situation in Iraq, journalist and blogger Salam Pax has cancelled his lecture originally scheduled for April 4, 2007. In his most recent communication, he indicated that he and his family were fleeing Iraq and that, as a refugee, it would be impossible for him to honour his commitment to speak in Toronto. The April 13th lecture listed below will replace this event.

April 13, 2007 at 7:30 PM
Lida Abdul in discussion with John Greyson

A video/performance artist, Abdul was the first Afghani artist to represent Afghanistan at the Venice Biennale; Greyson is a Toronto-based filmmaker, video artist, writer, activist, and professor at York University whose work addresses queer issues and sexuality. The discussion between these two accomplished yet strikingly different artists promises to be quite extraordinary.
Presented in association with the Images Festival.

April 26, 2007 at 7:30 PM
Nelson Brissac
Shawn Micallef, moderator

The philosopher, curator and professor in the communication and semiotics program at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo speaks on urban interventions. Moderated by the Editor of Spacing magazine and Co-founder of [murmur].

May 17, 2007 at 7:30 PM
Constance Classen
Janine Marchessault, moderator

The professor of sociology and anthropology at Concordia University (Montréal) and co-author of Aroma: The Cultural History of Smell speaks on smell and the city. Moderated by the Canada Research Chair in art, digital media and globalization at York University.

Admission Fees
Series Passes
$25 Prefix Photo Subscribers, Students & Seniors
$40 Regular

Single Events
$5 Prefix Photo Subscribers, Students & Seniors
$8 Regular

Registration
Series passes are available in advance or at the door. Tickets to single events are available only at the door, with ticket sales beginning one half-hour in advance of the event. All events take place at Prefix Institute of Contemporary Art.

For registration, press or other inquiries, please contact Daniel Ehrenworth, Public Programs Manager, at:

Prefix Institute of Contemporary Art
401 Richmond St. West, Suite 124
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5V 3A8
T 416-591-0357
F 416-591-0358
E daniel@prefix.ca

For the presentation of the Urban Field Speakers Series, Prefix gratefully acknowledges the support of our staff, volunteers and patrons, as well as our Official Catering Sponsor, à la Carte Kitchen, and our Official Hotel Sponsor, the Sutton Place Hotel. Prefix also acknowledges the assistance of the Visible City Project and Archive of York University, the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts.

Visible City: Project + Archive is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of CanadaCanada Research Chairs, York Research, Ontario Innovation Trust, and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.