LOUISE MICHEL JACKSON – Iridescence and Intimacy

Jan. 23 to 27, 2023 – 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.)
Full week rate: 85$ with Services Québec support / 150$ regular rate
*Drop-in class rate: 22$ with Service Québec / 32$ if non-eligible (Monday and/or Tuesday only)
Language of instruction: French
Questions can also be answered in English
Capacity: 23 people, priority for full week attendance
Open to artists of all disciplines

REGISTER FOR THE FULL WEEK>

*Drop-ins welcome Monday and/or Tuesday only. Payment by credit card or e-transfer on site the morning of, if capacity allows (no reservations).

By registering for a workshop, you agree to cancel your participation if you have symptoms or suspect you may have COVID-19. Please read the Participant Engagement before registering. Thank you!

CONTENT
This workshop aims to facilitate research into bioluminescence and the spectrum of possibilities to generate your own light. Some living organisms produce light to communicate, seduce, protect themselves or lure their prey. We will try to materialize this biological phenomenon in the body and through small luminous scenographic installations in order to honour this intimate radiation individually and collectively. The intention is simple: to light ourselves from within in order to better vibrate.

How can the light produced by other objects – portable lighting devices – influence a state of presence through its colour, warmth, texture and even rhythm? To become an extension of gestures and produce a sensoriality in space? Whether naked or dressed in manipulable luminous and reflective materials, we will explore the ‘bioluminescent’ body; its iridescent surfaces, cellular tissues, the vibratory, sensual and inhabited corporeality of the nervous system of the polyps that make up jellyfish and coral. Cocoons, incandescence and glitters to be expected.

Participants are invited to bring light devices, materials, fabrics, textures, reflectors, clothing of their choice.


ACCESSIBILITY
There will be a lot of individual work but also small group exchanges. Some exercises suggest physical closeness. Discussion and talking circles will happen but will not take up too much space. There will be a little writing and word work. Loud music will be present 50% of the time. A similar structure will be offered each day, but in an evolving format, with new exercises added each day. There will be physical routes that require more endurance or technical dexterity, yet the material will be adaptable, there will be different alternatives offered. The exercises are 90% based on improvisational structures and some explorations will be done in the dark, or with eyes closed. The use of tools/objects or luminous materials may disturb some light-sensitive people, they will be present for about 1h. People with reduced mobility might encounter some obstacles, but they will be guided to enjoy it as much as the others. 


BIOGRAPHY
Louise Michel Jackson has been a performer for 20 years now. She has collaborated with various companies and independant artists such as Hanako Hoshimi-Caines, Frédérick Gravel, Dana Gingras, Rubberbandance, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (Belgium) Simon Portigal and Lara Oundjian, among others. After living in Belgium for 5 years, she moved between Brussels and Montreal, creating her first project “STROKE” aka SHUDDER in collaboration with Ben Fury (Belgium), which premiered at Charleroi-danses (Brussels 2016) and in several venues including O.f.f.t.a (2015) Tangente (Montreal 2016), Palais de Tokyo (Paris 2016) and the Festival de Lausanne 2017. She created Bright Worms (Théâtre Lachapelle April 2021), a research on bioluminescence that integrates video projection and light devices in collaboration with the sound artist Magali Babin. She has been supported as an artist in residence by the “third floor” associated with Usine C between 2019 and 2021. She regularly teaches here and abroad and these exchanges are proving increasingly crucial and complementary in her approach. Since 2021, she works in parallel in the field of plants and flowers. This second exciting profession is now essential to maintain a good mental balance and maintain a space of distance necessary to her artistic practice.