Dance Integrated Australia announces a new collaboration for The Corner Residency Program. Creative Director, Philip Channells connects dance, research and architecture with visiting Artists in Residence, Ebony James Chow (James Chow Projects, Adelaide) and Dr. Sam Spurr (University of New South Wales, Sydney) in an exciting new interdisciplinary art form project.

As part of The Corner Residency Program this new research project will test unconventional drawing processes and techniques and question how this can inform relationships between architectural design and movement.

Based at Federal’s Jasper Corner 8 – 11 April 2015 in the Byron Bay Hinterlands, this is the first of a series of workshops designed to test a set of ideas through movement and drawing practices that conflate and reconstitute the disciplines of architecture and dance.

The starting points for this project include researching the works of the interdisciplinary design studio, Diller Scofidio + Renfro (NYC); the physical symmetry practice of Tony Orrico (USA); the interdisciplinary research collaboration Choreo-graphic Figures : Deviations from the Line involving Austrian artists Nikolaus Gansterer & choreographer Mariella Greil and art-writer, Emma Cocker from the UK; and Rudolf von Laban who is considered to be one of the most important figures in the history of dance.

The opportunity to start this new collaboration in such an architecturally evocative space will have exciting implications on the work produced. My research interests are in the generative relations between drawing and movement, and how to see both in terms of ecological systems. This continues my doctoral research in performance and architecture, and the use of alternative notational systems into spatial design processes. Dr. Sam Spurr

As part of The Corner Residency Program at the Jasper Corner Chapel in Federal, Channells, James Chow and Spurr will co-facilitate a 2-hour Workshop from 11am – 1pm (admission $20) followed by a FREE ‘Meet the Artist’ talk from 1:30 – 2:30pm This event is suitable for anyone interested in the intersections between dance and design.

To register your interest for either one or both events, email philipchannells@gmail.com or telephone +61 432 073 304.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Philip Channells is the Creative Director of Dance Integrated Australia and is committed to a long-term vision to challenge the aesthetics and stereotypes of dance. He is fiercely committed to the development of thriving artistic cultural communities that integrate people from diverse age groups, backgrounds and life experience. Through his work in regional NSW, across Australia, the UK, Norway, Finland, Singapore, Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea, Philip builds a collaborative environment conducive to creativity and social inclusion. As an Ambassador of Bundanon Trust’s Artist In Residence program Philip initiated the Beyond Technique Residency project and is collaborating with filmmaker Sam James on the Bundanon Local Project : NO TIME LIKE NOW. In 2014 & 2015 he joined forces with Gavin Webber (The Farm) and local, interstate and international artists on The Corner Dance Lab project in Federal, NSW. Some of his choreographic credits include: The Main Event (2014 & 2015), PERFECT (im)PERFECTIONS – stories untold (2014), Skin-deep, Enter & Exit (2013), Second Skin, inPerspective #1, Lythophytes & Epiphytes (2012), Next of Kin (2010).

Photo: Sean Campbell

Ebony James Chow is based in the Adelaide Hills and works across the realms of architecture, design, art & installation. Since 2001, Ebony has been a part of the Healthabitat team, a housing upgrade program which applies a methodology designed to improve the health of people, particularly children by ensuring they have access to safe and well-functioning housing.  In 2011, Healthabitat were awarded the UN Habitat and Building & Social Housing Foundations World Habitat Award as well as the Institute of Architects Leadership in Sustainability Prize. In 2012 Healthabitat was selected as an Australian representative at the Venice International Architecture Biennale. Over the last decade, Ebony has worked with 2014 gold-medal recipients Troppo Architects as well as 2015 gold-medal recipient Peter Stutchbury.  She has taught in architecture design studios at University of Sydney and regularly teaches at University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide. Ebony has curated, designed and constructed set designs & art installations for Adelaide Festival and Restless Dance Theatre. Ebony is co-founding director of architecture and design office James Chow Projects.

Photo: Philip Channells

Sam Spurr is a maker and thinker working in the intersections and collisions of art and architecture. She has recently joined UNSW Art and Design as a Senior Lecturer. Sam has for the past decade taught across architecture and design and was founding director of the Interior and Spatial Design program at UTS. She holds a doctorate titled, ‘Performative Architecture’ from UNSW. As part of the collective N she has curated exhibitions, public interviews and design projects around conversations on art, architecture and design. Sam has exhibited at the Moscow Biennale (2013), Sydney Biennale (2012), Storefront Gallery NYC (2012), the Prague Quadrennial (2011) and The Gwangju Design Biennale (2011), as well as curating the first SEAM Symposium (2009) on architecture, film and dance. www.samspurr.net

Photo: Sam Spurr