Pique fall edition collides with the Ottawa International Animation Festival for the multidisciplinary art party of the season
Anishinabe-Algonquin land –– August 17, 2023
On September 23, 2023, Pique returns to the Arts Court for its signature building-wide party showcasing underground music and art from across Turtle Island. Featuring blackwinterwells, Yves Jarvis, myst milano, SlowPitchSound & Mo:delic Arts, Marker Starling, Dorothea Paas, Syana, E-Prime, God’s Mom, Hex-A-Decimal, and many more, Pique is the best place to discover ground-breaking underground artists.
For the second year, Debaser is pleased to announce its partnership with the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) to co-present programming at Pique. Hundreds of the world’s leading and emerging animators will intermingle with Pique’s artistically-adventurous audience for the multidisciplinary art party of the season.
The all-ages festival will present 25 artists across 7 stages and exhibition spaces, indoors and outdoors, including groundbreaking audio/visual performances, interactive art, screenings, talks, and more.
PROGRAMMING
While the nights grow longer, Pique fall edition programming showcases an even wider range of nightlife culture from avant-garde underground scenes across Turtle Island. From the dark fantasies of artist and “terrorista fashionista” MimiVirus, and rave-influenced aggrotech of cybergoth Hex-A-Decimal, to the hyper emo-rap of blackwinterwells and Jodie Jodie Roger, this edition hosts a kaleidoscope of shadowy aesthetics that are sure to entrance all who enter. Meanwhile, parallel legends of the club and community, Toronto’s myst milano. and Montreal’s Syana will dominate the dance floor with local DJ/musician Don’t Trust Ryan.
Outdoors on the terrace, enjoy the sunset and skyline alongside a program of left-of-center songwriters featuring Yves Jarvis, Marker Starling, Dorothea Paas and Mukazi, or immerse yourself in an audio-visual performance exploring ecology and the natural world by experimental turntablist SlowPitchSound and media artist Mo:delic Arts. Back in the club, vibe to the dreamy retro beats of E-Prime and God’s Mom.
Take part in collective art-marking at the annual OIAF Drink & Draw with DJ Jas Nasty, or doodle on the Big Long Paper, the return of the collaborative drawing project at Pique. Plus, settle in for a talk on “The Art of Wasting Time” by Dutch-Pakistani new media artist Faiyaz Jafri, presented by OIAF.
LIVE STREAM
Tune into Pique from anywhere at youtube.com/debasertv or thisispique.com. Broadcasting live from Club SAW and the SAW Courtyard, catch live performances by underground and experimental artists as if you were in the crowd. In between sets, take in a program of animated shorts by emerging and established animators from across Turtle Island (program to be announced!), screened exclusively for live stream viewers.
ATTENDING PIQUE
As always, Pique is all-ages and pay-what-you-can. Radically inclusive, safer, and more accessible, Pique is a space for shared understanding, joy, and social impact. The event site is accessible, with automated doors, accessible gender-neutral washrooms, and elevator access to all levels. Our harm reduction team will be on-site to support audience members, and our staff and volunteers are trained with harm reduction strategies in support of community well-being.
Tickets are available on Eventbrite on a sliding-scale of $25-50, and audience members are also invited to register for our pay-what-you-can program for subsidized tickets. Tickets are general admission and offer access to all of the event spaces and stages, subject to capacity.
Building-wide and site-specific, Pique takes place at the newly redeveloped Arts Court, the former Ottawa Courthouse that is now home to several contemporary art and performance organizations, including Debaser HQ. Produced in partnership with the Arts Court and City of Ottawa in collaboration with Arts Court resident organizations SAW, Ottawa International Animation Festival, Ottawa Fringe, Digital Arts Resource Centre, Ottawa Art Gallery, Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, the Canadian Film Institute, Artengine, and the Ottawa Dance Directive, Pique brings together music and arts communities for a community-engaged event like no other.
COMMENTS
“This edition of Pique is all about discovering new ground-breaking artists,” says Debaser founder and director Rachel Weldon. “As the air starts to chill and the students return to Ottawa, the fall strikes us as a great time for curiosity, contemplation, and exchange of ideas/energy. We are excited to bring together a program that invites you to explore, discover, and sink your teeth into something new.”
“I’m always looking forward to the next edition of Pique because it’s another opportunity to improve on, what I consider, Ottawa’s most exciting arts festival series,” says Debaser programming manager Tafari Hall. “This edition is no exception, as we have carefully curated a captivating and diverse program of artists for each stage, while continuously working on ways to improve the Pique experience for artists and audience members alike.”
EVENT DETAILS
What: Pique fall edition ‘23
When: Saturday, September 23rd, 2023
Time: 6:00 pm to 2:00 am
Where: Arts Court (67 Nicholas St, Ottawa, ON)
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/pique-fall-23-tickets-696295417337
Lineup:
Marker Starling
Yves Jarvis
Dorothea Paas
Mukazi
Jodie Jodie Roger
blackwinterwells
Hex-a-Decimal
MimiVirus
Los3r
Dent
E-Prime
God's Mom
Syana
myst milano.
Don't Trust Ryan
ethan 24k
Hard Science visuals
Mo:Delic and SlowPitchSound
Destiny Deschoix
MEDIA KIT
View the Pique fall edition media kit for participating artists’ press images, Pique digital assets, photos from past editions, and more.
ABOUT PIQUE
Launched in 2021, Pique is a forward-thinking, artist-driven quarterly event series featuring eclectic musical, visual and multimedia artists, produced by Debaser. Four times per year, Pique takes over the Arts Court building in downtown Ottawa for a pay-what-you-can and all-ages celebration of music, art and more.
ABOUT DEBASER
Since establishing in 2013, Debaser has become one of Ottawa’s leading independent and underground music presenters, best known for its experimental music curation and inclusive events. Debaser is a non-profit organization that exists to support underrepresented, equity-deserving and outsider art and artists, catalyze artist-driven and collaborative projects, and create inclusive and responsive community spaces that cultivate shared understanding, joy, and social impact.
PARTNERS AND FUNDERS
Pique is presented in partnership with the Arts Court, SAW, Ottawa International Animation Festival, Ottawa Fringe, Digital Arts Resource Centre, Ottawa Art Gallery, the Canadian Film Institute, Artengine, and the Ottawa Dance Directive, with support from Kilam Media, Wall Sound, Collective Arts Brewing Company, Postering Ottawa, n.10.as, Apt613, and CKCU FM, and is funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Canada through the Community Services Recovery Fund, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Canadian Heritage, the City of Ottawa, the Ontario Arts Council, and the SOCAN Foundation.
PRESS CONTACT
Rachel Weldon
Director, Debaser
rachel@debaser.ca | 819-593-7081