Programming
Karen Kraven
Firm curves behind a brick wall
For her project, Karen Kraven involves participants — local community members, artists, architects — to assist her in the ephemeral redevelopment of a commercial space in the Quartier Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (3179 Ontario East).
From September 27th - October 21th 2010
Séances médiumniques October 7 -14 -21
Closing event October 21th @ 8 PM
For DARE-DARE Dis/location, Karen Kraven is proposing a project that invites participants to aid in the ‘renovation’ of a space. Using a vacant storefront in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district (3179 Ontario east.), members of the local and artistic community, artists, architects and designers are encouraged to have one-on-one séances with her. Kraven will act as a medium for the space, to communicate the spaces décor desires, and the participant is encouraged communicate their own desires and/or ideas for the renovation project.
During this event, Kraven will have assistants who will interpret their conversation with the spirit of the space. They will move paint, fabric, furniture and walls, because Kraven is unable to create an apport (the paranormal transference of an article from one place to another). These actions are performed as a live sketch or an improvisational renovation dance. Like traditional mediumship, some of the actions are planned stunts, or choreographed movements to invoke belief in the ability to communicate with the spaces past décor lives.
Karen Kraven's works set up unexpected encounters between sculptures and images, strange resemblances and deceptive juxtapositions. Like a staging that has crystallized over time, these spaces merge and delight through the practiced strategies of a con artist. Kraven exploits the illusion and attraction found in activities such as sports, hunting, fishing and card games. These motifs take on the appearance of everyday objects, hand-made substitutes. In a state of transformation, they merge with each other and reappear modified. Originally from Toronto, Karen Kraven currently resides in Montreal, where she is studying for an MFA at Concordia University.
