It was an exciting session last week with Adrian Norvid, visiting professor of painting and drawing at Concordia’s high-profile Studio Arts program. Adrian worked with us in developing new ways of working involving techniques such as collage using pieces we were making, allowing for unusual juxtapositions of images that moved our work up a level. We also used different sizes of paper, cut from sheets of stonehenge paper, and new materials such as pencil crayons with no wood, only pigment.
We meet this Friday at 10 to 130 in VA 315 in Visual Arts Building at corner of Crescent and Rene-Levesque Blvd.
This week we are expecting a new artist who has just moved to Montreal from Ottawa.
We also have welcomed two new artists to the group:
Jennifer Laoun-Rubenstein, who was featured in a VAV Gallery show with her collection of “roommates” in small boxes that could be purchased. Watch our website for photos of her work and a description of the ideas behind it.
Matt Goerzen, who works with painting, drawing and printmaking. His interests include comics.
Also please look into the event described below involving the impact of the Canadian mining industry. Member Judith Brisson is involved in this project.
Robert Winters
co-ordinator of The Art Collective
robertwinters@videotron.ca
Mauvaises mines : festival de films sur les impacts de l'industrie minière canadienne
Programme du festival de films sur les effets des projets miniers.
The Ugly Canadians: Festival on the impact of Canadian mining companies in developing countries
Documentary Film Festival on Mining
Mercredi 25 octobre
UQAM, Pavillon de l'Éducation, 1205 St-Denis, salle N-M340
19 h
Sipakapa n’est pas à vendre, v.o. Esp. St.fr
Le film décrit avec justesse la lutte du peuple Maya de Sipakapa contre un projet d’extraction d’or d’une minière canadienne. Il démontre comment un peuple peut défendre avec dignité son autonomie et réfuter les arguments avancés par les représentants de la minière.
Suivi d’une discussion avec Vinicio Lopez, du Movimiento de Trabajadores Campesinos de San Marcos au Guatemala. Espagnol avec traduction en français
Thursday, October 26th
Concordia University, E/V 1-605 -- the new Engineering/Fine arts building, Guy/St Catherine
19 h
Sipakapa is not for sale, v.o. Spanish. ST. English.
This documentary contrasts the daily life and struggle of the Sipakapan Maya people with the justifications of representatives of the Canadian mining company that operates in their territory. The film analyses the debate on mining exploitation and demonstrates the dignity of the Sipakapan people as they fight to defend their autonomy in the face of encroaching large-scale projects.
Followed by a discussion with Vinicio Lopez, responsible for mining issues at the MTC (Movimiento de Trabajadores Campesinos – Agrarian Workers Movement) of San Marcos, Guatemala. Translation to English.
Vendredi 27 octobre
UQAM Pavillon de l'Éducation, 1205 St-Denis, salle N-M110
19 h
Le prix de l'or, v.o. Fr.
Grâce à une enquête rigoureuse et à de nombreuses rencontres avec toutes les parties concernées par le projet, la réalisatrice décrit l’ensemble des conséquences sociales et environnementales de projet d’extraction minière conduit au Mali. Le documentaire présente notamment un cas avéré de contamination d l’eau et des conséquences sur la santé des communautés locales. Un documentaire poignant et instructif.
Suivi d’une discussion avec le Groupe de recherche pour les activités minières en Afrique de l’Université du Québec à Montréal (GRAMA)
Samedi 28 octobre
Université Concordia E/V 1-605 – Guy coin Ste. Catherine
17 h
New Eldorado, v.o. roumain, St. Fr
La compagnie canado-roumaine Rosia Montana Gold veut ouvrir la plus grande mine d'or d'Europe à Rosia Montana. Pour ce faire, la compagnie devra construire un réservoir de 800 hectares pour contenir les rejets d'eau contaminée au cyanure. Les quelques 2000 personnes du village devraient abandonner leurs terres, leurs maisons, leurs églises et tous ce qui a constitué leurs existences jusqu’à présent. Ce documentaire raconte leur histoire.
Suivi d’une discussion avec le groupe d’appui à la communauté de Rosia Montana.
Wednesday, November 1st
Concordia University, E/V 1-605 -- the new Engineering/Fine arts building, Guy/St Catherine
19 h
El agua brilla mas que el oro, v.o. Español.
The film illustrates the case of Pascua Lama, an open pit gold-mine in Chile, owned by Barrick Gold Ltd., a Canadian company. It shows the rejection, by local and national Chilean groups, of the mine and its destructive environmental impact on the local glaciers, and on the water supply for human consumption and agricultural use.
19h15
From Midnight to the Rooster's Crow, v. English. & Spanish. St. English.
A Canadian oil giant is under fire for the construction of an oil pipeline that is fuelling controversy and conflict in the Amazon. Faced with the contamination of their lands and coercion by military forces, Ecuadorian peasants tap into reserves of remarkable strength and courage as they resist the pipeline. A documentary that follows the story of big oil from the toxic rivers of the Amazon to company headquarters in Alberta. Best Canadian Documentary, Hot Docs Film Festival 2005. Audience Award at Rencontres internationales du documentaires de Montréal, 2005.
Followed by a discussion led by film-maker Nadja Drost (for From Midnight to the Rooster's Crow), and a member of the group No a Pascua Lama (for El agua brilla más que el oro).
Thursday, November 2nd
Concordia University, E/V 1-605 -- the new Engineering/Fine arts building, Guy/St Catherine
19 h
Moving Mountains, v.o. Eng..
Documentary on how the oldest mining company in the Philippines has destroyed a community in the Cordillera region, home of the indigenous peoples of northern Philippines, who are stripped of their livelihood, land and culture. The documentary also presents an alternative: another tribe in the Cordillera has decided to keep the big mining companies out of their area, and engage in small-scale mining themselves, to ensure that the benefits from the land's rich resources go back to the people.
19h45
All that Glitters, v.o. Eng..
The last rush for gold is seriously disrupting the indigenous people of the Philippines. Already marginalized in their homeland, they now face the mass arrival of small independent miners, keen to make their fortunes, and Canadian mining companies with larger operations.
Followed by a discussion led by Royal Orr, of the United Church of Canada which has partnerships with local communities in the Philippines and produced the video
Friday, November 3rd
Concordia University, E/V 1-605 -- the new Engineering/Fine arts building, Guy/St Catherine
19 h
The Curse of Copper, v. Eng..
The struggle of the communities of the Intag cloud forest in Ecuador against Canadian Ascendant Copper Corporation.
19 h 40
U.A.I.L. Go Back, v.o. Eng..
This documentary presents a series of interviews with the local populations that have been resisting the construction of a mine in the Kashipur region of India supported in part by Alcan. The communities have been resisting the company for 13 years. The documentary demonstrates clearly the company’s tactics to try and wear the local indigenous people down: killings, threats, intimidation etc.
Followed by a discussion led by Andree Germain, of Friends of Earth, producers of the film The Curse of Copper.
Samedi 4 novembre
UQAM, Pavillon de l'Éducation, 1205 St-Denis, salle N-M110
15 h
Une mine … non merci : un mois à Tambogrande, v.o esp. St. Fr
Le cas de Tambogrande au Pérou. L’histoire d’un projet minier canadien qui entraînerait le déplacement de 8000 personnes et la déviation du cours d’une rivière. Édifiant!
16 h
Un rêve de fou / Un sueño de loco, v.o. esp. St. Fr
Le documentaire cherche à comprendre les répercussions environnementales et socio-économiques de l'industrie minière sur les populations locales dans les Andes chiliennes.
16h15
Vidéo-discussion
Projection d’extraits d’une vidéo sur la problématique minière au Pérou suivi d’une discussion avec les stagiaires ayant travaillé à la réalisation de cette vidéo.
