last updated on april 29, 2003 // reach us at: info@openears.ca, or call 1-888-363-3591 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Open Ears Month @ the Kitchener Public Library This April, the Kitchener Public Library will be hosting Open Ears Month - a series of workshops, talks, and other events with a focus on sound and the act of listening. We live in a visually oriented culture which often undervalues our other senses. This month of activities is being presented in order to raise our collective awareness about our sense of hearing and the sonic environments we inhabit. Come out and open your mind by opening your ears. click on the dates for more info, or simply scroll through the list
note: the CHS event which was scheduled for the 21st has been canelled. Artist at Work The Canadian Hearing Society Thursday, April 3 or Thursday, April 17 - 7:00pm and Tuesday April 8 or The Canadian Hearing Society is an organization dedicated to helping individuals with hearing loss lead independent lives and educating the public on the prevention of hearing loss. These lectures are presented by members of our community who are currently living with hearing disabilities. Deep Listening Workshop with Anne Bourne Saturday, April 5 1:30 – 4:30pm Deep Listening starts from a belief that hearing and listening are two different things. Hearing is an involuntary physical act – anyone with healthy ears can hear. It is passive. Listening is an active engagement with one’s aural environment – noticing and directing attention to what is heard. Deep Listening furthers this process by expanding your attention to include the relationships between all the sounds around you. For Pauline Oliveros, the creator of this method, Deep Listening has become a life-long learning process. This workshop will be led by Anne Bourne, a Toronto musician who has studied Deep Listening directly with Pauline. To find out more about Deep Listening visit www.deeplistening.org To register for this workshop, call 743-0271 ext. 255. CHS Mobile Audiology Van Saturday, April 12 10:00 - 4:00pm Are you curious how your life on this noisy planet has affected your hearing? You can get a preliminary “screening test” courtesy of the Canadian Hearing Society’s mobile audiology van. Tests take approximately 5 minutes; we invite you to drop in. Sonic Geography: Imagined and Remembered with Ellen Waterman, PhD. Critical Studies & Experimental Practice, Department of Music, University of California Monday, April 14 - 7:00pm Professor Waterman edited the recently-published anthology Sonic Geography Imagined and Remembered, a collection of articles from eight countries and diverse disciplines and forms the first cultural critique of acoustic ecology. Professor Waterman is a recent arrival to the University of Guelph’s Music Department where she lectures on new and experimental music from a cultural studies perspective. Drum-making Workshops with Peter Jarvis Saturday, April 19
In this workshop, children will learn how to make, decorate and play their own drums, which they can then take home with them. This workshop is led by Peter Jarvis, who has created over 2000 drums over the past few years with children in schools and large festivals, including The Toronto Board of Education and The Mississauga International Children's Festival. Taiji and Ting Jing workshop with Steve Higgins Saturday, April 19 - 2:00–4:00pm The practice of Taiji (or “Tai Chi”, depending on spelling) is not just a physical discipline, but a mental and spiritual one, as well. An important part of the practice is the ability to listen to the subtle energies in your body and your surrounding environment. “Ting Jing” is the name given to this form of listening. Local Taiji instructor Steve Higgins will lead this two-hour workshop, which will involve active participation, but does not require that you be at all athletic. Wear comfy clothes! To register for this workshop, call 743-0271 ext. 255. Contact Improv Dance Workshop with Tanya Williams & Colin Umbach Saturday, April 26 - 10:00am-12:30pm A cross between meditation, martial art, dance and good-old-fashioned cooperation, contact improvisation explores open spontaneous conversation expressed through the body. No previous experience is required; just bring yourself and comfortable clothing. Tanya Williams and Colin Umbach are interested in movement that arises out of authentic relationship with oneself and interdependence with others. They practice contact improvisation whenever and wherever they can, and have studied with Chris Aiken, Andrew Harwood, Karen Nelson, Kaeja d'Dance, Carolyn Stewart and Pam Johnson, among others. To register for this workshop, please call 743-0271 ext 255 Chime-making Workshop with Jesse Stewart Saturday, April 26 - 2:00-4:00pm This year’s Open Ears festival is hosting a chime-making competition which asks people to create chimes out of reclaimed and recycled materials. Guelph-area percussionist and instrument builder, Jesse Stewart, will conduct a (pre-event) workshop showing some basic tips for prospective instrument builders. Some materials will be supplied, but feel free to bring your own household or urban junk and find out how to turn it into music. This workshop is open to individuals or families working together. To register for this workshop, please call 743-0271 ext. 255. Space is limited. |