Current Activities
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Recent Activities
Visiting Artist - Gordon Monahan
VibraFusionLab, in partnership with London Ontario Media Arts Association (LOMAA) was pleased to sponsor Gordon Monahan as our first Visiting Artist. Gordon Monahan creates music, sound sculpture, sound installation, and computer-controlled sound environments that span various genres from avant garde concert music to multi-media installation and sound art. He is one of six Laureates to receive Governor General’s Awards for Visual and Media Arts in 2013.
Gordon will be returning to VibraFusionLab to continue the development of new work and investigating ways of incorporating the vibrotactile technology available in our Lab.
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Studies in Sound and Vibration (Vibrotactile)
London Ontario Media Arts Association (LOMAA):
Vibrotactile Workshop
Presenters: David Bobier and Gordon Monahan
Dates: May 24-25
Workshop Description
The technology presented in the workshop is a cross modal audio‐tactile system that supports the presentation of audio information as vibrotactile stimuli. The sensory substitution technique separates audio signals into discrete vibrotactile output channels that are presented along the body to create a high‐resolution audio‐tactile experience. This technology offers the potential to make artistic expression more accessible, but the technique and strategies revealed through this project may well translate into greater innovation in sensory art experimentation.
This workshop is about considering sound as nothing more than a form of vibration. It is about rediscovering our sense of touch and feel and how vibration can actually be another way of communicating. It is about how we might consider vibration as a medium for creation, perhaps as an adjunct to your existing artistic practice or as an entirely new means of expression. It is also about exploring the potential of vibration as an innovative, emerging art form of its own.
This 2-day workshop will focus on investigating alternative and creative ways of investing artistic practices (visual, music, film, performance, audio, etc.) with the added tactile experience of vibration. Participants will be introduced to the design and use of the system and, for the remainder of the workshop, will create and perform a work for public presentation.
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May 5-9, 2014
During the week-long forum, hosted by SPILL PROpagation and held in Gatineau, Quebec, professional Deaf artists from across Canada, representing a variety of arts disciplines, gathered to deconstruct and define Deaf arts practices in Canada.
On Friday May 9, 2014 VibraFusionLab was privileged to be invited to attend a presentation of their discussions, insights and inspired art work produced during the week.
VibraFusionLab is in the process of sponsoring a collaboration with several of the artists from this forum to develop a new project exploring the vibrotactile in the Deaf Arts.
During the week-long forum, hosted by SPILL PROpagation and held in Gatineau, Quebec, professional Deaf artists from across Canada, representing a variety of arts disciplines, gathered to deconstruct and define Deaf arts practices in Canada.
On Friday May 9, 2014 VibraFusionLab was privileged to be invited to attend a presentation of their discussions, insights and inspired art work produced during the week.
VibraFusionLab is in the process of sponsoring a collaboration with several of the artists from this forum to develop a new project exploring the vibrotactile in the Deaf Arts.
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VibraFusionLab (new home)
355 Clarence Street
London, ON
VibraFusionLab (new home)
355 Clarence Street
London, ON
Interior views
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VibraFusionLab participated in London, Ontario's first ever Wearable Technology
Fashion Show hosted by DH MakerBus, London
March 20, 2014
Museum London
London, ON
VibraFusionLab participated in London, Ontario's first ever Wearable Technology
Fashion Show hosted by DH MakerBus, London
March 20, 2014
Museum London
London, ON
Maria Karam, Director, Tactile Audio Displays on the walk with most recent vibrotactile vest prototype.
VibraFusionLab display table TAD designed prototype (The Octopus)
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VibraFusionLab is delighted to have participated in InterAccess 30th Anniversary, MECHA KUCHA
http://interaccess.org/mechakucha
Thursday, January 16, 2014
The Drake Hotel - Underground
1150 Queen St W, Toronto
6:30pm
30 SPEAKERS, 30 TOOLS, CONCEPTS & DEVICES.
CELEBRATE 30 YEARS WITH INTERACCESS!
VibraFusionLab is delighted to have participated in InterAccess 30th Anniversary, MECHA KUCHA
http://interaccess.org/mechakucha
Thursday, January 16, 2014
The Drake Hotel - Underground
1150 Queen St W, Toronto
6:30pm
30 SPEAKERS, 30 TOOLS, CONCEPTS & DEVICES.
CELEBRATE 30 YEARS WITH INTERACCESS!
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VibraFusionLab was invited by Noiseborder Ensemble to present a haptic sound workshop and performance at the University of Windsor on January 30, 2104.
VibraFusionLab was invited by Noiseborder Ensemble to present a haptic sound workshop and performance at the University of Windsor on January 30, 2104.
Soundbeam and vibrotactile (Emoti) chairs
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VibraFusionLab partnered with Unity Project, London, Ontario and Orchestra London to provide access to unique vibrotactile experience of The Christmas Carol. December 11, 2013.
VibraFusionLab partnered with Unity Project, London, Ontario and Orchestra London to provide access to unique vibrotactile experience of The Christmas Carol. December 11, 2013.
***** CBC Music has chosen the Emoti-chair as `5 new innovations shaping classical music`, December, 2013
Emoti-chair (Demonstration and TAD Inc. prototype)
Setup - Centennial Hall, London
Centennial Hall, London, Ontario
Orator and American Sign Language Interpreter
What is VibraFusionLab?
VibraFusionLab is an interactive creative media studio that promotes and encourages the creation of a new accessible art form, the vibrotactile. Providing the opportunity to create compositions and expand artistic practices that are designed to be experienced as tactile stimuli (rather than sound), this art form is new and almost completely unexplored. It is accessible to hearing, deaf and hard of hearing artists and audiences alike.
Where is it?
VibraFusionLab is in the process of locating in London, Ontario, Canada and anticipates getting programming underway by late February, 2104.
Why is it?
In view of the technical and scientific innovation of the vibrotactile research (described below) that VibraFusionLab has available, this project represents considerable potential in generating artistic development and innovative research in vibration and the tactile as an artistic modality. Our holistic approach to considering vibration as an art form and means of creation and exploration, development and integration of greater multi-sensory components and experiences in our art work furthers our desire of combining alternative language, communication and emotional strategies and experiences into our art practices. In addition, the use of this type of interactive multi-media, multi-sensory approach provides those with different abilities to enjoy equal participation and provides the potential to make various forms of artistic expression more accessible, offers new and unique approaches for those with different abilities to produce art using an innovative tactile mode and opens alternative opportunities and, through artistic expression, to explore the integration of sound and vibration with the tradition of physical and emotional healing practices in various cultures.
The VibraFusionLab, using this new adaptive technology designed originally for Deaf consumption, supports the efforts to develop work in the areas of greater accessibility and audience participation; incorporate new communication and adaptive technologies; express multi-sensory exploration and experiences; and create further partnerships in artistic endeavours and advancing cross-cultural learning between the Deaf and hearing communities.
The introduction of these technologies also increases opportunities for exploring applications of alternative languages, methods of communication and strategies for increasing emotionality in art practice. In addition, the use of this type of interactive multi-media, multi-sensory approach allows us to broaden my own conceptual base, create for greater accessibility, increase audience interaction and offer unique approaches for those with different abilities to produce art using innovative tactile modes.
Music and sound research has generally focused on auditory aspects such as pitch, timbre, and dynamics without considering significant contributions of the tactile/vibrational modes on what and how the ‘listener’ perceives and experiences. Through this type of cross modal technology, not readily available outside of the research domain, we will have the opportunity of researching methods of recreating or reconfiguring (composing) this new ‘language’ in combination with our current practices. We will have the opportunity of not only learning a new technology but will also be challenged in creating a new grammar and language in which to work.
In view of the technical and scientific innovation of the vibrotactile research (described below) that VibraFusionLab has available, this project represents considerable potential in generating artistic development and innovative research in vibration and the tactile as an artistic modality. Our holistic approach to considering vibration as an art form and means of creation and exploration, development and integration of greater multi-sensory components and experiences in our art work furthers our desire of combining alternative language, communication and emotional strategies and experiences into our art practices. In addition, the use of this type of interactive multi-media, multi-sensory approach provides those with different abilities to enjoy equal participation and provides the potential to make various forms of artistic expression more accessible, offers new and unique approaches for those with different abilities to produce art using an innovative tactile mode and opens alternative opportunities and, through artistic expression, to explore the integration of sound and vibration with the tradition of physical and emotional healing practices in various cultures.
The VibraFusionLab, using this new adaptive technology designed originally for Deaf consumption, supports the efforts to develop work in the areas of greater accessibility and audience participation; incorporate new communication and adaptive technologies; express multi-sensory exploration and experiences; and create further partnerships in artistic endeavours and advancing cross-cultural learning between the Deaf and hearing communities.
The introduction of these technologies also increases opportunities for exploring applications of alternative languages, methods of communication and strategies for increasing emotionality in art practice. In addition, the use of this type of interactive multi-media, multi-sensory approach allows us to broaden my own conceptual base, create for greater accessibility, increase audience interaction and offer unique approaches for those with different abilities to produce art using innovative tactile modes.
Music and sound research has generally focused on auditory aspects such as pitch, timbre, and dynamics without considering significant contributions of the tactile/vibrational modes on what and how the ‘listener’ perceives and experiences. Through this type of cross modal technology, not readily available outside of the research domain, we will have the opportunity of researching methods of recreating or reconfiguring (composing) this new ‘language’ in combination with our current practices. We will have the opportunity of not only learning a new technology but will also be challenged in creating a new grammar and language in which to work.
When is it?
VibraFusionLab is expecting to be in full operation in March of 2014. In the meantime, anyone that is interested in being part of this exciting new creative movement can contact us through this website.
VibraFusionLab is expecting to be in full operation in March of 2014. In the meantime, anyone that is interested in being part of this exciting new creative movement can contact us through this website.
How is it?
The development of VibraFusionLab is funded through Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canada Council/Grande NCE, Ontario Arts Council and London Arts Council.
The development of VibraFusionLab is funded through Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canada Council/Grande NCE, Ontario Arts Council and London Arts Council.
Past Activities
Word Hoard, Back and Forth and Forward Again, Artlab Concourse Gallery, Visual Arts Department, Western University, November, 2013
Launch of Western University's interdisciplinary journal of the arts and humanities. Graduate English Society, Department of English.
Launch of Western University's interdisciplinary journal of the arts and humanities. Graduate English Society, Department of English.
COMMON PULSE Arts and Disability Festival, Durham Art Gallery, September, 2013
The fusion of research and creation is evident in the work being done in the fields of art production, Disability Studies and Disability Art and Culture by all of the participants invited to the symposium. Their contributions to the dialogue will address the applicability of a research/creation model in the ongoing effort to bring more light and understanding to our evolving conception of disability and the contributions that disability culture brings to society generally.
UnLab Workshop, Convergence Centre, Western University, London, ON
A three-day vibrotactile workshop, held in March of 2012 in London, involved a dozen arts professionals representing a cross-section of creative disciplines from Toronto, London and Windsor. Out of this workshop, VibraFusionLab collective was formed.
Nuit Blanche, Museum London, 2012
Studies in Sound and Vibration
As part of this year’s Le Petite Nuit Blanche in London, Ontario, Museum London invited VibraFusionLab to present an evening of 'sensory fusion' that featured the multi-modal system along with vibe track files created during the UnLab London workshop. The vibrachord, a keyboard designed specifically for vibration composition, was available for the audience to participate with, as well as, the opportunity to create vibrational works by means of a recently developed gesture recognition system at Ryerson. A video of a performance, in response to her experience with the vibrational system, by Gwen Dobie, a deaf theatre professor at York was also featured.
As part of this year’s Le Petite Nuit Blanche in London, Ontario, Museum London invited VibraFusionLab to present an evening of 'sensory fusion' that featured the multi-modal system along with vibe track files created during the UnLab London workshop. The vibrachord, a keyboard designed specifically for vibration composition, was available for the audience to participate with, as well as, the opportunity to create vibrational works by means of a recently developed gesture recognition system at Ryerson. A video of a performance, in response to her experience with the vibrational system, by Gwen Dobie, a deaf theatre professor at York was also featured.
Nuit Blanche, Museum London, London, Ontario 2012 (noted particpants, Cassandra Getty, John
Boyle, Wendy Saby, unidentified)
Vibrachord created by Carmen Branje, PhD Eng 2011
The Transmorphous Sound Ensemble of Chris Meloche and Richard Moule, formed in 2009, produced a new sound work for the event. Meloche plays a table-top guitar which is processed through several digital processing devices while Moule uses as similar approach on the violin. Both performers also make use of prepared recordings (environmental, media etc...) which are also manipulated beyond recognition. It is this gradual and deliberate melding of complimentary and contrasting elements which succeeds in the creation of an organic, immersive soundscape environment.
Also featured was Audio Lodge, a Canadian sound art collective based in London Ontario, dedicated to the aural exploration of cultural systems and their unexpected analogues in the environment. Founded by multidisciplinary artists Kevin Curtis-Norcross, Troy David Ouellette and Paul Walde, the collective was established as a platform for interdisciplinary research using sound as a point of departure. Audio Cartography is a technique developed by the group for transposing music notation and other visual descriptions of sound into geographic mapping. Their performances were channelled through the vibrotactile system into several newly developed chair prototypes by Ryerson and TAD Inc. allowing the audience to experience the additional tactile modality.
Dennis Siren, a London based sound performer, who refers to his work as the 'art of streamimg', opened the evening with a solo performance. Audio engineer, producer, cinematographer, soundtrack composer and sound streamer Dennis Siren has extensive experience in audio recording and video production. He is co-founder of Saby Siren Productions and has been providing Media Services to London and area since 2000. As a multi-instrumentalist, he has been writing, recording and performing music for 40 years. Many of his recordings and videos are posted on YouTube under the Art of Streaming. His work has been featured on CBC programs on Radio 2 and 3. He has recently collaborated with the sound poet Penn Kemp on “On the Other Hand of Time” presented at Visible Verse Festival, Vancouver, B.C. and NAISA Radio Art Compilation CD, Toronto.
