Migrating Landscapes spring update: Jam-packed edition

Today we received a special update from Migrating Landscapes Organizer (MLO) to find out what's new with the team. Here's what's going on as Team Canada packs for the Venice Architecture Biennale this August. 

What to expect from the Venice Biennale this year

The 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale takes place in the context of common ground. "I want this Biennale to celebrate a vital, interconnected architectural culture, and pose questions about the intellectual and physical territories that it shares," says David Chipperfield, director of the 2012 Biennale. That being said, Migrating Landscapes and Venice 2012 were clearly meant to be.

How to charm visitors into the Canadian Pavilion

To make a statement on space and landscape, Migrating Landscapes plans on scattering wooden modules out from the confines of the Canadian Pavilion. Shorter wood pieces will evolve into seating, while the taller wood pieces will act as bright fluorescent pink beacons for the Canadian Pavilion.

The team hopes this exterior installation will represent notions and values that can be negotiated with neighbouring nations. The idea is that visitors shouldn't be required to find their ways into the boundaries of the Canadian Pavilion but rather be immersed in the experience on common ground.

How to make it in Venice, Italy

The 18 finalists of Migrating Landscapes are constantly revisiting their entries and making updates for Venice. Some are crafting new models while others refine their video content. MLO is collaborating with local Winnipeg filmmakers At First Sight to convey its curatorial message in Venice.

Put the "fun" in Fundraising

MLO is launching a shop by the end of this month! We're stoked to get our hands on carrying bags and attire with limited edition designs, but we're most excited to see what kinds of wood furniture and products will be available. 

A "Sponsor a Winner" campaign is presently in the works where sponsorship money is needed for the finalists at the Biennale. Part of the costs cover the cost of shipment of the finalists' model to Venice, and the other part covers travel expenses. More information will be available soon.

RAIC Festival of Architecture 2012

MLO will be making a presentation at the Foundation Luncheon on June 14th, and will also have a booth set up selling merchandise and disseminating fundraising info. 

The final countdown: The national exhibition from YWG to VCE

The national exhibition at the Winnipeg Art Gallery ended on April 29. From there, the installation was taken down immediately in preparation for shipment to Venice. In case you missed it, here is the list of 18 individual and team entries that won the national competition. 

British Columbia
 

• Amirali Javidan
• Mira Yung and IMu Chan 
• Olena Chytra, Philipp Dittus, Alana Green, Katy Young 
• D’Arcy Jones with Amanda Kemeny, Daan Murray and Melani Pigat

Alberta

• Tiffany Shaw-Collinge

Saskatchewan

• April Hiebert, Brad Pickard, Robyn Robertson, Mark Sin and Victoria Yong-Hing 
   

Manitoba

• Jason Hare
• Travis Cooke and Jason Kun
• Andre Silva, Chris Gilmour and Kory Kaspersion 

Ontario

• Andrew Batay-Csorba and Jodi Batay-Csorba
• Erica Pecoskie and George Simionopoulos
• Kfir Gluzberg and Liana Bresler 

Quebec

• Enrique Enriquez
• Felix Tue
• Jean-Nicolas Bouchard and Philippe Charest
• Anca Matiyku and Chad Connery

Atlantic

• Marianna de Cola
• Stephen Kopp, Monica Adair, John Leroux, Jessie Croll and Alicia Halas

Together with Migrating Landscapes organizers and curators 5468796 Architecture + Jae-Sung Chon, these winning entries will form Canada’s official entry at the 2012 Venice Biennale in Architecture (August 29 – November 25). A special thanks goes to the national jury: Eleanor Bond, Ian Chodikoff, Anne Cormier, Bruce Kuwabara, and John Patkau.

For more information and images of the winning entries, visit MLO and scroll down. To see tons more photos of the national exhibition in Winnipeg, visit Migrating Landscapes' album on Facebook. All of Cityzen's previous updates on Migrating Landscapes can be found here.

Recent press

National Post | Cultural memories come packed with the moving boxes
National Post | 'Even when we live in one country, we feel like two persons'
National Post | Harnessing ocean energy for remote Newfoundland coast
Edmonton Journal | Edmonton artist wins spot in Venice Biennale exhibition

Photo credits: Jacqueline Young