Poster by Najeeba Ahmed (@ajeebsir)
Topique, a forum for idea and knowledge exchange at Pique festival, returns this spring with three days of artist talks, workshops, and more. Taking place March 8-10, 2024 at the Arts Court around Pique festival programming, Topique invites attendees to dig deeper into the ideas and processes behind its artists’ groundbreaking work, exploring a range of topics including digital and analogue production techniques, mindful listening, womanhood and representation, and accessible improvisation.
PLEASE NOTE: Registration to the Topique forum is free with a ticket to Pique, but each session is subject to limited capacity restrictions. Please register for the workshop/artist talk you would like to attend when purchasing a Pique spring edition ticket.
Admission is SLIDING SCALE with a suggested contribution of $25-$50.
To purchase a ticket below or above the suggested sliding scale, please register for our pay-what-you-can ticket program.
The event is ALL AGES and licensed.
Visit thisispique.com for more info.
FEATURING…
Zineb Allaoui
Anne Bourne
Maria Chávez
Rosie Dixon
IONE
Val Jeanty
LuCille
Natalie "uNATy" Spence
Jesse Stewart
Maylee Todd
Daniel Weintraub
TOPIQUE PROGRAM DETAILS
At Tha Root Of
Friday, March 8
5:00-6:00 pm
Format: Panel discussion
Featuring Rosie Dixon and Natalie "uNATy" Spence
Sisters in-conversation: Rosie Dixon x Natalie "uNATy" Spence interview one another on navigating womanhood, community engagement, and rest.
Elusive Illusion: A Review of the Nude African Form
Friday, March 8
6:00-7:00 pm
Format: Panel discussion
Featuring: Zineb Allaoui and LuCille
Through a perspective that considers the legacies of colonialism, misogynoir, and gender dynamics, this talk between local artists will aim to tackle the largeness of these topics through an open forum dialogue.
The Fundamentals of Ableton and How to Build a Multimedia Show with Ableton Live
Saturday, March 9
12:00-2:00 pm
Format: Workshop
Featuring Maylee Todd
Learn the fundamentals of Ableton Live production with Maylee Todd; from building a beat to adding visuals for live performance.
Abstract Turntablism and Afrofuturism
Saturday, March 9
2:00-4:30 pm
Format: Panel discussion and workshop
Featuring Val Jeanty and Maria Chávez
Through skill sharing, sound artists Maria Chávez and Val Jeanty invite participants to learn abstract turntablism techniques while discussing Afrofuturism, improvisation, and experimentation using analogue technology.
Going, Going, Gong
Saturday, March 9
4:30-5:30 pm
Format: Book launch and demonstration
Featuring Jesse Stewart
An interactive installation and performance promoting musical accessibility through the AUMI application and the book launch of Improvising Across Abilities: Pauline Oliveros and the Adaptive Use Musical Instrument (2024).
Listening and Sounding in the Dark: The Text Scores of Pauline Oliveros
Sunday, March 10
2:00-4:00 pm
Format: Workshop
Featuring Anne Bourne
Led by Oliveros’ collaborator Anne Bourne, this Deep Listening and sounding workshop provides space for all voices to illuminate the stillness, sonify the dark, and experience community through choral sound fields.
Deep Listening: The Story of Pauline Oliveros
Sunday, March 10
5:00-7:00 pm
Format: Film screening
Documenting her life on the vanguard of contemporary American music for six decades, the story of Pauline Oliveros illuminates the pathway to the present and future of music, the philosophy of sound, and the art of listening.
Deep Listening documentary Q&A
Sunday, March 10
7:00-8:00 pm
Format: Panel discussion
Featuring IONE and Daniel Weintraub
Deep Listening documentary director Daniel Weintraub, and executive producer and Oliveros’ life and creative partner, IONE, sit down to discuss the life and legacy of Pauline Oliveros and take questions from the audience about the making of the film.
Accessibility, health and harm reduction information
Please note that Pique is documented by various authorized photographers and videographers. Photos and video documentation are used for internal and external use, and sometimes photos or videos of attendees are posted on Debaser social media. If a photo is posted of you is published, you can email hello@debaser.ca to request to take the photo down.
Selected stages at Pique are also broadcasted live on our Pique live stream. By attending Pique, attendees consent to appearing in the live stream broadcast.
Thank you to our Sponsors and Partners:
Pique is presented in partnership with the Arts Court, SAW, Artengine, Ottawa Fringe, Digital Arts Resource Centre, Ottawa Art Gallery, Produced by Youth, Embassy of Norway, Music Gallery, Venus Fest, and Women from Space Festival, with support from Kilam Media, Wall Sound, Collective Arts Brewing Company, Planet Coffee, Postering Ottawa, n.10.as, Apt613, and CKCU FM, and is funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, Ontario Arts Council, the Government of Canada through the Community Services Recovery Fund, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Canadian Heritage, the City of Ottawa, and the SOCAN Foundation.
