plastic orchid factory
Digital Folk
*Please note that while this position starts in July, students will be enrolled in the Fall
2016 semester.
organization
plastic orchid factory is an artist-run, interdisciplinary organization that uses the body as a site for social
commentary. plastic orchid develops methodologies for creation that foster engagement, play, and exploration
with artists from a diversity of backgrounds and practices. Through collaboration, performance and research,
plastic orchid deftly probes connections between contemporary bodies and the social, political and technological
landscapes that they inhabit.
project
Digital Folk is an interdisciplinary collaboration between dance artist, James Gnam, visual artist, Natalie Purschwitz,
lighting designer, James Proudfoot and six dance artists that aims to build a world that frames cultural shifts in the
perception of the body and embodied knowledge by considering the role that immersive movement and music
based video games have played in defining a generation’s approach to identity, physicality, social dance and
performance.
process
plastic orchid’s practice is centred around a balance between personal agency and collective responsibility. We
strive to cultivate relationships with other artists that move beyond transactional exchange, where mutual
investment, curiosity, communication and a sharing of authorship and responsibilities are the currencies driving
the conversations and the work. We work to develop tools and language that allow everyone involved to move
outside of hierarchal roles and responsibilities and shift with fluidity between thinking, watching, talking, doing
and adjusting.
responsibilities
Play video games, dance, think, write, talk, embody, perform.
We are looking for 4 to 6 artists with a physical practice to join our creative team for the final phase of creation and
development as well as perform the work with us in the Fall of 2016.
Digital Folk functions as an “artist led experience” so a comfort level with speaking, interacting and dancing with
the audience is essential.
Successful applicants will be expected to participate in all rehearsals.
Multiple spoken languages is an asset, but not required
timeline
Our collaborators have been researching and developing Digital Folk for two years. To facilitate the integration of
the interns into the project, James and Natalie propose the following:
• July 25-29 (min 5 hours/day): Development workshop, studio at SFU Woodward’s with Natalie and James
• Aug 1-13 (min 5 hours/day, afternoons): Technical residency at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts (studio theatre) with all
collaborators
• Aug 29-Sept 1 (min 5 hours/day, afternoons/early evenings): Development workshop, Wong Assembly Area, SFU
Woodward’s with Natalie and James
plastic orchid factory
Digital Folk
• Sept 6-19 (exact schedule TBC, min 5 hours/day, afternoons/early evenings): Rehearsals and “beta tests” in Wong
Assembly Area, SFU Woodward’s with all collaborators
• Sept 20-25 (exact schedule TBC, min 4 hours/day, afternoons/early evenings): Preview and Production, Wong
Assembly Area, SFU Woodward’s with all collaborators
plastic orchid factory
Digital Folk
Deadline to apply: Apply via Symplicity by May 6, 2016.
Contact
Natalie LeFebvre Gnam, Artistic Producer
James Gnam, Artistic Director
plasticorchid@me.com
http://plasticorchidfactory.com