Allumage, Or, How the Light Gets In

Chantal Rousseau, Budgie, animated gif, 2011.

Allumage is the centerpiece event for artignite, a showcase of the performing and visual arts occurring in Kingston from January 25 to February 10, 2013. Using light as a theme, Allumage introduces Kingston-based artists to a broader public, encouraging community through shared participation in a celebration of contemporary art in non-traditional spaces. My curatorial project “Allumage, or How the Light Gets In” consists of four distinct installations and events that will take place throughout downtown Kingston in conjunction with the artignite festival.

Kingston artist Chantal Rousseau’s “Animated Gifs” will introduce the project, on view at five locations as of January 25th (Locations: 156 Princess Street (Novel Idea); 120 Princess Street (The Screening Room); 208 Wellington Street (4 Colour 8 Bit); 85 Princess Street (Wayfarer Books); 21 Queen Street (Modern Fuel)).

Next, Kingston’s storytelling group Mouthy will hold an event on the theme “From Darkness to the Light” at the Artel (205 Sydenham Street) on February 1st at 8 pm.

Westport’s Mark Thompson will prepare an ice installation for the night of February 2nd at 7 pm on the steps of City Hall (216 Ontario Street).

On the night of February 2nd, Kingston folk duo Kyra and Tully and Edmonton’s Clinker aka Gary James Joynes will perform in a live concert at 7:30 pm at the Ballroom of the Confederation Place Hotel (237 Ontario Street).

The theme for the project is suggested in its subtitle, “How the Light Gets In,” which is taken from the lyrics to Leonard Cohen’s song “Anthem”: “There is a crack, a crack in everything / That’s how the light gets in.” Each artist and group contributing work to the “Allumage” project use their art as a critical fulcrum point to open a space that illuminates new perspectives and approaches to everyday life. Many of them use light as a medium that literally enacts this illumination. All of the events and installations are free and accessible to the public. Allumage is presented by the Kingston Whig-Standard.