News From Nowhere: visions of Utopia, a project created by Steve Wheeler and developed in conjunction with the London Borough of Waltham Forest, art-tracks and C[too]
A number of public sites in North East London, including The William Morris Gallery, a massive building site, a theatre surrounded by a moat, the Changing Room Gallery and more, are the stage for installations, audio visual works, music performances and public art activities during September 2005.
Based on the title of the William Morris novel News From Nowhere, the project aims to re-examine the legacy of utopianism. The idealists of the 19th and early 20th century, believed passionately in the possibilities of radical social change, with visions of a future egalitarian world, a far cry from our post-modern, post-ideological times.
An International line-up of artists, musicians, writers and performers present their work in the context of the spaces provided.
The events, works in progress and completed pieces are documented and published on-line in the Visions of Utopia web site. The site will also provide a global forum for open contributions, reports and sightings of utopia.
A newspaper, "News from Nowhere" has been published and distributed, including essays, documentation, interviews and the voices of local residents as well as those of the participating artists and organizers.
visit the Vision of Utopia site
a CD Rom with the web site (browsable off line), copies of the films presented, audio recordings of the "Salotti Musicali Utopisti" the "News From Nowhere" newspaper and other documents is available. Click here to download the order form.
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Roland Perrin's Cuban adventure: a music documentary.
Roberto Battista followed American composer Roland Perrin in his journey to Cuba to rehearse and record his concerto "Crossing the Border" with an orchestra from Havana.
Roberto filmed the musicians in and out of the studio, in their daily life in Havana, with their families and at music school, a trailer of the documentary film can be viewed clicking here.
A web site for Roland was also completed: www.rolandperrin.com
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art-tracks and Scarabeus Theatre started a series of activities in schools, using wireless micro-videocameras worn by children during performances and experimental activities; the children interact with each other's projections, playing with new dimensions and applying technology to learning and fantastic creation.
More projects involving remote wireless video communication, enabling children to explore each other's worlds, are planned for the next future. |
On the 22nd of April at the Purcell Room, South Bank, London, Lola Perrin performed a series of her recent piano works, accompanied by films by several artists, including art-tracks' founder Roberto Battista.
www.lolaperrin.com
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Another "Salotto Musicale" took place, this time in the context of Chimera, an art exhibition that took place in London from the 5th to the 27th of May.
The evening of ambient music wason Wednesday the 17th and featured an original assortment of international artists. [see presentation document]
Chimera was organised by Annabelle Moreau (a site for her was produced too) and eight other artists who have their spaces at the ACAVA studios in East London.
Check the Chimera site for all the info about the exhibition and the additional events that were hosted there.
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During the Summer 2006 Scarabeus Theatre developed a new outdoor performance, Shimadai, that was presented in London and then toured the UK.
The development, rehearsals and performances were documented by Katia Beltrame and Roberto Battista and a documentary was produced. Contact scarabeus for information and copies (the project was supported by the Arts Council). |
In December and January 2006/07 Roberto followed the Seckou Keita Quartet in their tour of Senegal and Gambia and filmed the whole adventure.
A video documentary has been produced with Katia Beltrame, the private view was held at the BBC Broadcasting House at the end of February and a trailer was presented during the UK tour of the Quartet in February, click here to see a web version of it.
(the project was supported by the Arts Council).
To order copies of the DVD with the full documentary contact Chelima Fade, the quartet's manager at World Artventures.
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New music and a multimedia performance are in development, the result of a cooperation between Roberto Battista, Anna Lewenhaupt and varius 'guests'.
You can hear some audio samples and preview some video clips.
Performances in London are planned for the autumn.
video clips of the various performances, Salotti musicali, documentary films and more can be seen at: www.robat.scl.net and www.myspace.com/robertobattista
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