LIFE=ART=LIFE

“Art is what makes life more interesting than art.” Robert Filliou

Curated by Istvan Kantor

Presented by Blank Slate with support from the 7a*11d International Festival of Performance Art

One Night Only collective presented through Fado Performance Inc.

LIFE=ART=LIFE is designed to be an exploratory forum evaluating the past and present trends of performance art in the context of everyday life.

Under the auspices of Blank Slate, the weekend event will bring together local and international artists and theorists to present and discuss their work. The artists include local tableau-vivant diva, Louise Liliefeldt; art-action ambassador Richard Martel from Quebec City; writer, professor and Dr. of destruction and art theory Kristine Stiles from North Carolina; and self declared non-artist Tehching Hsieh from New York City forever famous for his one year performances. Among guests at the Sunday panel discussion will be One Night Only, a Regina based performance art collective, in Toronto for their event Home Repair hosted by Fado. The six members of the group are Adam Budd, Felipe Diaz, Blair Fornwald, Tanis Keiner, Tammy McGrath, and Anna Scott.

Today it seems to us, that performance art, as a rebellious and revolutionary force, has completed its mandate by infiltrating every aspect of life. The life=art=life theory, historically supported by the avant garde, has never been more relevant than today.

If it is true that performance art, as a social engine and generator of change, has accomplished its mission, then what is its’ place in current artistic activities and everyday life?

Blank Slate hosts forums for discussions, critical talks, conferences, workshops and interdisciplinary events, conducted in a non-intimidating environment. Participants are encouraged to freely express their ideas concerning today’s artistic activities, new trends, theoretical issues and practical methods. The purpose of Blank Slate is to encourage everyone in the exploration of creative ideas and critical thinking, blending together science, technology, philosophy, politics and art.

About Blank Slate

The first Blank Slate event took place on August 14 2003 and was marked by the world famous blackout that put Blank Slate into the right track of enlightening discussion. Since, Blank Slate has hosted ten Discussion cocktail events with local and international artists and has co-operated with performance art agency Fado Perfomance Inc. Participants have included action-artist Gusztav Uto from Transylvania, Canadian Art editor Richard Rhodes, artist stand-ups Shawna Dempsey and Lorri Millan from Winnipeg, avant-garde legends Eldon Garnet and Istvan Kantor, Toronto Arts Council visionary Jim Garrard, emerging local talents Maria Legault, Jennifer Matotek and Beth McEachen. The Blank Slate strategy based on the practical doctrine that life is a collective social sculpture and everyone is an artist/constructor/architect.

This is event is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts.

Fado project page for LIFE=ART=LIFE
Critical writing about LIFE=ART=LIFE by Daniel Baird