Wakefield Out Loud

WAKEFIELD OUT LOUD

Wakefield Out Loud took place November 3–6, 2022 at Centre Wakefield La Pêche. A four-day realization of the larger HOW OUT LOUD project, it brought together video, music, visual art, installation, participatory work and live encounters after more than two years of pandemic disruption.

The event was organized around four themes — Resilience, Seekers, Community and Change — and marked a shift from the isolation of the pandemic toward being together again.

At the centre of each evening were participants from the Out Loud video portraits. During the pandemic, they had spoken about what they were living through, then been filmed listening back to recordings of their own words. In Wakefield Out Loud, they returned to a shared live space and came onstage to watch those portraits with an audience.

Each group was then celebrated with live music created for that evening. The gesture was both simple and important: after years of uncertainty, isolation and profound change, the people whose struggles had been documented on screen were now physically present again. The work moved from witnessing what had happened to recognizing that we had made it through and were entering another phase.

Around these encounters, artists created installations, performances, workshops and participatory works that expanded the four themes throughout the building.

RESILIENCE — Thursday, November 3

The first evening explored resilience through the work of Nathalie Coutou, with music by Anouk Michelle Grégoire.

The Out Loud portraits featured Ilse Turnsen and Rita Jain.

In the studio, cj fleury and JP Campbell presented What IS the Story?, inviting participants to work with art materials and imagine new narratives.

In the lobby, UKAI Projects presented A.I. Ritual, an interactive project inviting people to anonymously contribute their thoughts and make work with an artificial-intelligence system.

SEEKERS — Friday, November 4

The second evening focused on searching, questioning and reassessing what matters.

Music for the evening was by Mat Falvai.

The Out Loud portraits featured Randolph McMillan and James Wearne.

The evening also included Triple Seven — Jewely Gee and Second Sight, whose Life Is for Living combined sound, spoken word, live beats, projection and visual elements.

The Wakefield Community Puppets appeared in the premiere of Hyperindividualism, a song by Frozen Grapes.

cj fleury and JP Campbell continued What IS the Story? in the studio, while UKAI Projects’ A.I. Ritual continued in the lobby.

COMMUNITY — Saturday, November 5

The third evening looked at what happened to ideas of connection and community through the pandemic years.

Visual work by Stephanie Hill was presented with music by Eve Parker Finley.

The Out Loud portraits featured Ruth Salmon and Renée Richard.

In the studio, Iris Kiewiet, Destini Broom and Ginnifer Menominee led Spirit Beading, an invitation to gather, make, share and contribute to a collective artwork while also creating something personal to take home.

UKAI Projects’ A.I. Ritual continued in the lobby.

CHANGE — Sunday, November 6

The final day considered how much had changed — in work, education, relationships and everyday life.

Visual work by Hannah Ranger was presented with music by Claire Bestland.

The Out Loud portraits featured Hélène Debanné Labiche, Ingrid Snydal, Kerry Hodgins and Agnes Krischel.

Iris Kiewiet, Destini Broom and Ginnifer Menominee continued Spirit Beading in the studio, and UKAI Projects’ A.I. Ritual continued in the lobby.

A STO Union production in co-production with HAU Hebbel am Ufer (Berlin)

Concept, direction and performance
Nadia Ross

Stage manager, in-house technical director and creative collaborator
Robert Scott

Technical director
Christian Gagnon

Lighting and video design
Second Sight

Set design
STO Union and Second Sight

Sound and music composition for the videos
Claire Bestland

Production manager
Nadia Ross

Production assistant
Renée Richard

Tour and financial management
Shauna Kadyschuk

Web management and graphic design
Bob Michek, South Hill Graphics

Out Loud video participants
Rita Jain
Ruth Salmon
Hélène Debanné Labiche
Randolph McMillan
Michael and Lauren
James Wearne
Ilse Turnsen
Ingrid Snydal
Kerry Hodgins
Jill Rick
Agnes Krischel
Michael Clarke
Margery Leach
Renée Richard

A.I. Ritual — UKAI Projects
Design: Dan Tapper
Technical directors: Jerrold McGrath and Kasra Goodarz

Postcard
Allie Gattor

Drawings of HAU1
Tania Al Kayyali

Hyperindividualism — Frozen Grapes
Lyrics and performance: Jeffrey Ferguson
Music, all instruments and production: Chris Hopkins
Mastering: Mike Dubue, Studio Cimetière
Video: Nadia Ross and Robert Scott
Titles: Madeleine Ranger
Puppets and costumes: Vannessa Passmore, Eddie “Chance” Ironwood and Heidi Honegger
Set and props: cj fleury and Robert Scott