SOLESTITIA: A CELEBRATION OF ELEMENTAL BEAUTY AND URBAN MYTHOLOGY

Eclectic Midsummer Night event to showcase and raise funds for our growing Artist-in-Residence program

Saturday, June 17, 2006, 8pm - 2am

TRASA urban arts collective is proud to present Solestitia, an evening-long community celebration of Midsummer Night. This eclectic evening features music and projections by John deJong, a live sound work by artist-in-residence Mathieu Ruhlman, and live music by Theta Naught, the Räuber-Prinz Ensemble, and Merryl.

The event will also host site-specific performances by resident companies Movement Forum and Paradigm Dance Project, along with a silent art auction to benefit Artspeak Magazine—curated by Kenny Riches of Kayo Gallery and featuring new work by over 20 local artists including Lenka Konopasek, Trent Call, Tessa Lindsay, Davina Pallone, James Baker, Jeremy Herridge, Bill Robbins, and Cein Watson.

Solestitia is the first event in a multi-phase fundraising campaign to support the Pickle Company’s growing Artist-in-Residence program. With an emphasis on innovative, contemporary work that sparks critical dialogue, this program provides funding, studio and exhibition space for performance, sound, video and visual art projects.

“The [Residency] program is all about offering a place for artists to engage deeply with an idea,” said Kristina Robb, Executive Director, “a creative home where they can take risks, experiment, collaborate across mediums, and ultimately see how far they can take their work.”

TRASA urban arts collective is currently raising funds for a 5,200 square-foot movement studio that will serve as a community and resident class, workshop, rehearsal, and performance space. We are also raising funds for our inaugural visual arts residency: a large-scale sound and object installation by David and Mathieu Ruhlman which will open in September.

Mathieu Ruhlman, an internationally-exhibited sound and video artist, will present a live drone-based sound work for Solestitia.

Produced in collaboration with Crimson Crane Design and Sax Romney Floral Design, Solestitia will be loosely based on Old-World Midsummer traditions, which center around fire and love rites, a thinning of the “veil between worlds,” and the interplay of light and darkness.

The evening will begin with string music, summer hors d’oeuvres, and a cash bar serving hand-crafted cocktails, and will slowly degrade into fire, edgy sound and dance performance, and hard drum-and-bass.

Admission is $15 at the door (cash or check only, 21 and over), with all proceeds going to benefit TRASA urban arts collective, the non-profit 501(c)3 arts and education program that sustains the Pickle Company.

Solestitia is made possible through generous support by the Salt Lake City Arts Council and Wild Oats Marketplace.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Mathieu Ruhlmann is a sound and video artist living in Vancouver, B.C. He has released numerous recordings on Canadian, U.S., and European Record labels, and has performed radio works in Australia, the U.K., Croatia, and the Netherlands. He was recently commissioned for a sound installation at the Liquid Architecture Festival in Brisbane, Australia.

“Mathieu constructs elaborately quiet sound landscapes with the minimum elements necessary, shaping images of a dehumanized world, showing a paralyzed, consumed world alone by itself.” – EARlabs

Theta Naught is an experimental instrumental quintet consisting of Darren Corey (drums), Greg Corey (lap steel), Peter Romney (cello), Jared Stanfield (keys), and Ryan Stanfield (bass). Their melodic improvisation draws influences from masters of jazz, avant-garde, and high-level mathematics.

“Theta Naught is able to craft a unique sound that is abundantly intelligent and mesmerizing. Inspirational, moving, and above all, challenging, Theta Naught is a diamond in the haystack.” – Decoy Music

John deJong is a multi-talented artist, educator, and activist working in mediums ranging from digital art to city government. John is an accomplished journalist, photographer, sculptor, and DJ. He is also an elected member of the SLC School District Board of Directors and Associate Publisher of Catalyst Magazine.

Merryl Martensen has been a major influence in the local electronica scene since 2000. Having played guitar and piano throughout her life, she developed a love of vinyl during her days at Uprok Records. Merryl currently co-owns Mechanized Records, a gallery, boutique, and the longest-running DJ record store in SLC.

Räuber-Prinz Ensemble’s sound ranges from French café music to acoustic adaptations of Kraftwerk’s “Robot Pop.” The ensemble features Daniel Stetich on accordion, Devan Church on guitar and Dave Bowen on upright bass.

Movement Forum is a collective of modern dance artists who use improvisation and performance in non-traditional and public settings to challenge traditional constructs of dance theater. Established in 2003, they create an open forum for movement and ideas which fosters a deep understanding between performer and audience. They have performed around at dance and arts festivals around the western United States.

Paradigm Dance Project’s mission is to foster creativity, expression, and education through movement. Founded in 1999, PDP provides access to dance for underserved populations, as well as emerging, experimental, and nontraditional dance artists through outreach classes, workshops, and performing opportunities. PDP also fosters relationships with other independent artists and art organizations, creating collaborative partnerships that strengthen the cultural and artistic presence in the community.