xoxoxo
Judy

I don’t think there are any easy solutions, but something like what the Perpetual Art Machine has done for video art could go a long way towards making screenings more modular. But a video jukebox is probably a nightmare from a licensing and artist fees perspective.

I think that the CARFAC fee schedule can get in the way of new developments in the industry. Now don’t get me wrong here, I’m not against paying artist fees. How does one develop a business model for a device that holds the potentiality of screening 1000 works? An exhibition space would certainly not want to pay the minimum license fee for all of the works. I should note here that I’m not bashing the CARFAC fee schedule. I am, after all, on the board of CARFAC Saskatchewan. And my other disclaimer is that the opinions I’m expressing here are my own opinions as an individual artist, and don’t necessarly toe the CARFAC party line.

Regardless of the licensing issues involved with a video jukebox, with contemporary digital media one the big stumbling blocks is the sheer diversity of technology. How does one plan for the many possible delivery platforms and methods? In my case it’s pretty simple to deal with the fact that as a digital artist I work with the computer as a tool for creating limited-edition prints on paper. But there are so many artists doing so many other things that the umbrella of “digital practices” is too broad.

I don’t have any answers, but I agree that Saskatoon is ready for some sort of easily-accessible project space. And the thing is, what I saw in Japan was that such spaces were sometimes integrated into the major civic institutions.

In terms of garage art, however, I’d much rather see ad hoc spaces than the development of a new artist-run centre. But that may be because I don’t want to become an administrator.

I agree with you that Sakatoon doesn’t really have so much to offer for artists working in digital media that want to exhibit their work without a 1+ year turnaround. The time frames needed for working with instititions is definitely prohibitive to a lot of artists, especially younger artists (who may find the whole process intimidating and overly bureaucratic) and more established artists whose new work falls outside the norms of what the local galleries are exhibiting. This “turnaround period” als makes it difficult to show new work that is responding to current political situations.

That said, I think that your idea could really fly. I think that there are other artists out there that would be interested in working with the kind of space you described, if the space was inviting, diverse, had a good location (absolutely essential!!!), and showed work of a consistent quality in a consistent fashion.

I’m actually looking for a place that I can run a series of workshops this summer. A space like that might be perfect (location, location, location!).

Keep me “posted”!
carrie