How to become a genius / Comment devenir un génie
September/Septembre 2008 – Calgary, Alberta
Unlimited edition
This edition is produced in coordination
with the Artcity Festival in Calgary.
Launch/Lancement
Wednesday, September 10th @ 7:45 pm
at the Uptown Stage and Screen
Calgary, Alberta
How to become a genius is inspired by today’s fascination for the unique and fantastic ways of thinking that are contra-status quo in the contemporary culture. With the focus on the individual, our fast paced information based Western culture has a thirst for the next new thing and each of us wants (so we are told) to be unique, to stand out, to become the genius in our area of interest.
How to become a genius is an opportunity for the invited artists to reinterpret the idea of the “genius” as an open-ended concept – a fictional place, a literal space, or a metaphorical site that explores the creative genius and the ways in which imagination pushes boundaries. The works that are presented in the context of the Petite enveloppe urbaine will reflect the multi-faceted nature of this phenomenon.
Participants / Title:
Kiarra Albina / Pal Power
Kim Brett & Jay-Cee Thibodeau / Genius for Geniuses
Larry McDowell / Trouble
The Cedar Tavern Singers AKA Les Phonoréalistes/
Master in Sincerity Correspondence Kit
Mireille Perron, Founder of the Labratory of Feminist Pataphysics /
Genius = Ex V/ (Gamma) x D
Coordinators:
Wednesday Lupypicw & Douglas Scholes
Les oeuvres / The works
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Kiarra Albina Pal Power(to be cut out and assembled into a pop-up diorama) |
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Kim Brett and Jay-Cee Thibodeau Genius for Geniuses(Book jacket cover) |
  |
Larry McDowell Trouble(8 page graphic novel) |
   |
The Cedar Tavern Singers AKA Les Phonoréalistes Master in Sincerity Correspondence Kit |
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Mireille Perron, Founder of the Labratory of Feminist Pataphysics Genius = E x V/ (Gamma) x D |
Text on verso of the envelope:
How to become a genius
The genius title is given to the ones among us who provoke change by pushing the boundaries of the present state of things. Yet, it seems a conflicted life, that of a genius, to persevere despite the disbelief and misunderstanding of their ideas, which are often ahead of their times. Stories of a genius being unable to grasp “everyday” concepts are abundant as often they are accused of lacking in common sense. Is there a common sense and can we always have it? And, if we don’t have it (common sense) are we then a genius? “Common sense is instinct. Enough of it is genius” (George Bernard Shaw). If common sense is the place where the senses come together, is not a genius, who uses the sense of wonder combined with a systematic and orderly approach to problem solving, someone with common sense not yet made common? One way to help understand what is genius is to learn from those people who we have come to know as the genius, those who were recognized for making significant changes through their observations of the status quo. Yet, this is relying on what has already been. So, perhaps, we should pull from within ourselves as “everyone is born a genius, but the process of living de-geniuses them.” (R. Buckminster Fuller).
Comment devenir un génie
Le titre de génie est attribué à ceux qui, parmi nous, provoquent le changement en poussant les limites de l’état présent des choses. Jusqu’ici, il semble être ardu de mener la vie d’un génie, de persévérer malgré l’incrédulité et l’incompréhension des gens face à des idées qui sont souvent en avance sur leur temps. Les histoires sur les génies incapables de saisir les concepts « de la vie de tous les jours » abondent et ils sont souvent accusés de manquer de bon sens. Le bon sens existe-t-il? Peut-on toujours faire preuve de bon sens? Et si nous ne possédons pas de bon sens, sommes-nous donc des génies? « Le bon sens est instinctif, il est principalement composé de génie ». (George Bernard Shaw) Si le bon sens est le lieu de réunion des sens, n’est-il pas un génie, celui qui utilise son sens de l’émerveillement combiné à une approche ordonnée et méthodique afin de résoudre un problème, celui dont le bon sens n’est pas encore sensé? Une bonne façon de comprendre ce qu’est un génie est de s’informer sur ceux qui ont été désignés comme tel, qui ont provoqué des changements significatifs de par leur observation du statu quo. Bien sûr, en procédant ainsi, nous misons sur ce qui a déjà existé. Peut-être devrions-nous donc tirer nos propres conclusions, puisque « tout le monde naît en tant que génie, mais le processus de la vie « dégénise » les gens ». (R. Buckminster Fuller).
Petite enveloppe urbaine No. 16 is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Canada License.
Petite enveloppe urbaine No.16 est sous licence au Creative Commons Paternité-Pas d’Utilisation Commerciale-Pas de Modification 2.5 Canada
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