20/20 Wavelength Project
{ The 20/20 Wavelength Project }
The 20/20 Wavelength Project began as a way to engage online and in person neighbourhoods as part of Alberta Culture Days, during the height of the global Covid-19 Pandemic. Led by artist Andy Moro, Phases 1 and 2 were a community-led look into What Matters Now. We wanted to know from people in our virtual and geographical communities what values were thrown into relief by the experience of the pandemic lockdowns.
Phase 3 took the contributions collected in the first two phases, and embedded them as A/R components of a series of steel cut animal sculptures housed in the Art Cubes on the Art Park of cSPACE Marda Loop. These sculptures were lit through the night, serving as beacons into our surrounding community during the darkest season of the year.
Lead artist Andy Moro, a mixed-blood multi-disciplinary artist, was drawn to the project initially because of his professional background in studio visual arts, foundry-based sculpture, blown glass, large-scale public installation and pyrotechnics. He is also highly motivated by community activation, as co-director of the Indigenous Activism Arts organization ARTICLE 11 with partner Tara Beagan.
Reaching out to local artists in the spoken word, visual art, music and dance communities, Andy Moro captured their thoughts, ideas, and performances on video, integrating them with sculptural elements. Art, video testimonials, and prose submissions were also received from schools, art and language centres and people out on the street. These components were further incorporated into the exhibition. The result was an extensive community exhibition held on three floors of cSPACE Marda Loop in September 2020.
The first floor was populated with artworks designed by members of the Indefinite Arts Centre, printed onto large scale acetate hung in the hallways.
The second floor video reel featured the generous submissions from, among others, the children of Willow Park school, the Alliance Française children’s classes, and video testimonials from passers-by across the city.
On the third floor, video reels of local artists performing were projected on walls, furniture, and salvaged historic King Edward School windows suspended in the hallway galleries. Featured artists included dancers Maxime Beauregard, Brenn Royal, musician Chantal Vitalis, singer Erin MacLean-Berko, and spoken word artist Wakefield Brewster. Wakefield went on to become Calgary’s Poet Laureate for 2022.
Phase 3 of the project saw AR and QR technology integrate the community’s video messages onto light-filled shadow box sculptures. The Art Cubes on the Art Park on the south side of cSPACE Marda Loop were fitted with larger than life steel-cut animal images (fish, owl, bison, deer) designed by Andy Moro. Honouring the land and the animals that are an integral part of this place’s history, the artworks reminded visitors to include all perspectives when looking back at What Matters Now.
2021 saw the project evolve further. On the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, visitors were encouraged to tie orange ribbons onto the Art Cubes to remember the children and indigenous communities profoundly affected by the residential school experience.
Further Readings
The 20/20 Wavelength Project is deeply grateful for the artistic spirit of its partners and sponsors.
- The Indefinite Arts Centre
- Lemay Architecture
- Rockwood Custom Homes
- The Edward
- Alberta Culture Days
Photo credit: Katy Whitt
Photo: Katy Whitt
c_Wavelength Live Event
On Thursday November 25th, 2021 the Studio Theatre at cSPACE hosted an intimate evening of music, poetry, performances, and panel discussions with the artists, leaders and contributors to the enigmatic 20/20 Wavelength Project. The evening, in person and also livestreamed to the community, featured the following guest speakers & performers:
- Wakefield Brewster, Poet & Spoken Word Artist (Featured speaker)
- Andy Moro (Lead Artist for the 20/20 Wavelength Project)
- Dr. Leroy Little Bear, Elder
- Kellie Wallis-Hampton, Artist (Inspiration)
- Grace Coulter Sherlock, Architect at Lemay (Sponsor)
- Deeter Schurig, President and CEO of cSPACE Projects
- Brenn Royale (Dancer)
- James Watson, (Musician)
