Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art presents a video installation by Elle Flanders (Toronto) and Tamira Sawatzky (Winnipeg) (Public Studio), produced by Anita Lee for the National Film Board. This powerful installation offers a unique chronicle of lives rarely seen and voices seldom heard. Composed of a series of individual journeys, and shot using stop-motion animation that captures the landscape frame by frame, the work is presented on three large double-sided walls. Road Movie is the result of year-long travels, with passage through segregated West Bank roads, during which the artists met a cross-section of people living in the region. An episodic odyssey through haunting landscapes, Road Movie also features an evocative soundscape created by acclaimed audio artist Anna Friz.
This exhibition is free and everyone is welcome. The artists will be in attendance at the reception. The artists are special visiting guest artists to Plug In’s Summer Institute which commences on July 3.
Elle Flanders is an award-winning filmmaker and artist based in Toronto. She was raised in Montreal and Jerusalem and holds both an M.A. in Critical Theory and an M.F.A. from Rutgers University. Her work has been exhibited at museums and festivals internationally, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Berlin International Film Festival. Together with Tamira Sawatzky she founded Public Studio (www.publicstudio.ca), with recent works including Kino Pravda 3G, a multi-channel video installation, and What Isn’t There, a photo installation. She directed the award-winning feature documentary Zero Degrees of Separation, which has screened worldwide and has been broadcast on the Sundance Channel, the Documentary Channel and MTV. Flanders is a Ph.D. candidate in the Visual Arts Studio Program at York University, where she also teaches.
Tamira Sawatzky is an award-winning architect and artist, raised in Winnipeg and working in Toronto. Tamira studied Architecture at the University of Manitoba. In addition to an ongoing architectural practice, her recent art work includes Kino Pravda 3G, a video installation, What Isn’t There, a photo installation, and Road Shots, a series of still photographs. Her work has been exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, the Art Gallery of York University (AGYU) and Flux Factory in New York.
Anita Lee is an award-winning producer at the National Film Board of Canada. Her current productions include Stories We Tell, a theatrical documentary by Sarah Polley, and Home Again, a dramatic feature by Sudz Sutherland. Her documentary credits include The Bodybuilder and I (Best Canadian Documentary Feature, Hot Docs 2007, Best Canadian Feature Documentary, Atlantic Film Festival 2007), FLicKeR, (Special Jury Prize Best Canadian Feature Documentary, Hot Docs 2008, 2009 Gemini Nomination Best Arts Documentary) and Tiger Spirit, (winner Donald Brittain Gemini Award 2009). Lee has also produced dramatic feature films: Proteus by John Greyson (TIFF 2003, Berlin 2004), Late Fragment (TIFF 2007, SXSW 2008) and co-produced Heaven on Earth by Deepa Mehta (TIFF 2008, Canada’s Top Ten 2009).
The National Film Board of Canada creates groundbreaking interactive works, social-issue documentaries and auteur animation. The NFB’s award-winning content can be seen at NFB.ca and on apps for smartphones, tablets and connected TV. Canada’s public producer and distributor since 1939, the NFB has created over 13,000 productions and won over 5,000 awards, including 6 Webbys, 12 Oscars and more than 90 Genies.
Road Movie was previously featured at the prestigious Toronto and Berlin International Film Festivals.
“Top 10 Art shows – Best of 2011” – Now Magazine
“The experience is immersive… riveting…” – Murray Whyte, Toronto Star
“This duo weaves an experience that is elegant and unexpected…” – Leah Sandals, National Post
Credit List:
Directors: Elle Flanders and Tamira Sawatzky (Public Studio)
Producer: Anita Lee
Executive Producer: Silva Basmajian
Sound Installation Artist: Anna Friz
Original Editor: John Gurdebeke
Editors: Jared Raab and Graydon Sheppard
Original Composition: Dave Wall and Checkpoint 303
Produced by the National Film Board of Canada
This exhibition is free and everyone is welcome. The artists will be in attendance at the reception. This exhibition is presented in part by Plug In ICA’s Summer Institute.
RBC Emerging Artist Programgenerously supports the Summer Institute at Plug In ICA.
The Summer Institute has been generously supported this year by a grant from the Winnipeg Foundation.
Plug In gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Winnipeg Arts Council, the Manitoba Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, the Department of Canadian Heritage, The Winnipeg Foundation, supporters, members and volunteers.