TO LD A FO D N N P FI MA U SPECTRA 2017 is an exciting family event bringing light to the depths of winter while celebrating Aberdeen’s creative past, present and future. Inviting audiences to engage with playful, accessible and high quality performances, spaces and works of art that marry light, sound and interactive experiences.
The programme adds The Roof Top Garden to its other host sites in Union Terrace Gardens, St Nicholas Kirkyard, Marischal College and Seventeen. This years’ festival features not only major public realm artworks, gallery installations, new Scottish commissions, children’s and adults workshops but also introduces a new live music programme in partnership with True North Festival and an international cultural conference ‘Catalyst’. Celebrating the 2017”Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology”, Aberdeen City Council, in conjunction with Curated Place, will explore Aberdeen’s past through this year’s theme ‘A New Light’, bringing together leading international artists with Scottish collaborators.
SPECTRA, Aberdeen’s stunning Festival of Light, returns to the heart of Aberdeen, from 9TH – 12TH February 2017. Supporters: Paul Friedlander, Wave Garden
Useful Information Parking Nearest public car parks are the Denburn, Bon Accord Centre/Harriet Street car park or Golden Square. Bus Aberdeen bus station is a 15 minute walk away from Union Terrace Gardens. Visit First Bus and Stagecoach websites to plan your journey. Train Aberdeen train station is a 15 minute walk away from Union Terrace Gardens with destinations across the UK. Dress We advise that you dress appropriately for an outdoor festival. First aid First aid is located at the entrance to Union Terrace Gardens from Denburn Viaduct and in St Nicholas Kirkyard.
Wheelchair access Wheelchair access to Union Terrace Gardens is through the Denburn Viaduct north gate. This can be accessed via His Majesty’s Theatre car park at the side of the theatre. The nearest disabled parking spaces are located in Denburn car park. Toilets Toilets can be found in Union Terrace Gardens and in St Nicholas Kirkyard. Refreshments A range of hot and cold beverages and locally supplied food will be available on site. Save up to 50% while you’re out and about with SPREE. Get the Spree App now at www.spreebook.com and take advantage of the SPECTRA special local deals. For further information Please email cityevents@ aberdeencity.gov.uk or visit www.spectraaberdeen.com
ENLIGHT: European Light Expression Network
Catalyst Conference Date: Fri 10 and Sat 11 February 2017, 10am - 5pm Venue: Marischal College, The Anatomy Rooms As part of SPECTRA 2017, Curated Place are inviting artists, designers, academics, architects, business leaders and social entrepreneurs to come together for a two day conference with our international partners to identify ways to develop the cultural economy in Aberdeen. Led by action, not the reading of papers, and interspersed with entertainment the event is intended to be a catalyst for action at home and internationally. For more information or to book a place go to: www.eventbrite.com/e/spectra-festival-2017-catalyst-conferencetickets-30350963549?aff=es2
SPECTRA and Curated Place have established ENLIGHT the European Light Expression Network by partnering with MIRIAD at the Manchester School of Art (UK), I/O Lab in Stavanger (Norway), and Fondazione Mondo Digitale in Rome (Italy). This 32 month project offers artists the opportunity to participate in a new programme and network producing and promoting light and sound artworks - exploring the meeting point of art, technology and design.
Double Take Projections, Obar Dheathain
Illuminating Geometry Children’s Workshop
For further info see:
Join SPECTRA festival artist in residence Jenny Dockett to make your own stunning lantern.
www.curatedplace.com/ENLIGHT2017
Open to children and adults of all ages, learn how to make a paper lantern in the shape of one of the “platonic solids” and illuminate it with an LED. Choose from a simple 4 sided tetrahedron, a cube, octahedron, dodecahedron, or accept the challenge of creating the complex 20 sided icosahedron!
FONDAZIONE
Cost £2 (Nominal charge to cover materials.)
Workshop Times Fri 10 Feb 4.30 - 5.10pm 5.30 - 6.10pm
Sat 11 & Sun 12 Feb 3.30 - 4.10pm 4.30 - 5.10pm 5.30 - 6.10pm
Seb Lee-Delisle, Laser Light Synths
To book, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/illuminating-geometrytickets-31121627626
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18:30 – 22:00 (last entry 21:30)
Paul Friedlander, Wave Garden A new site specific installation of illuminated kinetic wave sculptures.
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SPECTRA Commissions
Heather Lander, Channel 3.2 New commission challenging the traditional idea of the ‘screen’, exploring the illusionistic properties of light and sculptural surfaces. STANZA, The Global Dérive: The Sum Is Greater Than The Parts Join the binary graffiti club for a public spectacle encompassing performance politics and art.
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Secret Cities Aberdeen Information Point
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Manda Yates and Hannah Ayre, Parabola (Crest) A new site specific commission for the Bon Accord crest.
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Sara Stroud, Forget Me Not Collective narratives and memories from the Music Hall brought to life through a digital carousel.
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Ulianka, Neon Face Art Become a living SPECTRA artwork through Neon face paint.
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Sandy McRobbie, The Gateway Bold beams of light create an engaging architectural focus on the Robert Gordon’s College gateway, bathed in the historic school’s colours.
St. Nicholas Roof Top Garden
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Groupe LAPS, Les Araignées (The Spiders) Giant stick figure spiders take over the Kirkyard in homage to Robert the Bruce during Scotland’s year of History, Heritage and Archaeology.
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True North Music Stage Introducing SPECTRA’s first live music programme delivered through our partners True North Festival (APA), celebrating the North-east’s singer songwriter tradition and providing a platform for local talent.
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Tobias Daemgen, ElektroMistel Art collective RaumZeitPiraten will bring their “ElektroMistel” to the trees as a nod to the Gaelic myth of the ‘all healing plant’.
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Jim Buckley, Rajio Taisõ Warm up the winter nights through traditional Japanese calisthenics with a digital twist.
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STACK Collective, STACK Exploring the collective history of Aberdeen, STACK collective will engage with visitors to develop a collaborative piece which will evolve through the four days of the festival.
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Indoor Felix Thorn, Felix’s Machines An amazing automated percussion instrument installation which will play an entirely new work based on traditional Aberdonian folk songs composed for the festival. Yiannis Kranidiotis, Pentatono A ‘kinetic harmonic oscillator’ sculpture, creating a hypnotic sound and light experience in the main Kirk. Pauline Cordiner (storyteller) Family Friendly traditional Scottish stories and folk tales from around the world with North-east Storyteller Pauline. Badge-making Come and light yourself up at our badge-making stand, where you can create your own glow in the dark badge!
Marischal College
18.30 – 21.30 (last entry 21.00)
18.30 – 21.30 (last entry 21.00)
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Jenny Dockett, Illuminating Geometry
Illuminating Geometry Children’s Workshop Join SPECTRA festival artist in residence Jenny Dockett to make your own stunning lantern. Workshop times overleaf.
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Seb Lee-Delisle, Laser Light Synths Transforming Marischal College into a giant interactive laser light synth show.
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Yiannis Kranidiotis, 9 Months Rebirth Immersive and meditational visual and audio space on the theme of ‘rebirth’.
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Andrew Brooks & Adelle Stripe, Secret Cities Aberdeen Exploring the hidden and forgotten spaces of Aberdeen through photography and poetry with Granite Noir.
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Double Take Projections, Obar Dheathain An immersive audio visual transformation of Mitchell Hall in tribute to the history and stories of Aberdeen.
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SPECTRA Catalyst Conference Curated Place are inviting artists, designers, academics, architects, business leaders and social entrepreneurs to come together for a two day conference, with our international partners to identify ways to develop the cultural economy in Aberdeen. Friday 10 and Saturday 11 Feb 2017, 10am - 5pm Venue: The Anatomy Rooms More details overleaf.
Seventeen (open until 21.30) Created by Aberdeen school children, Illuminated Geometry is inspired by natural science and an archaeological mystery from the North-east’s past.
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18.30 – 21.30 (last entry 21.00)
Secret Cities Aberdeen, Participants Exhibition An exhibition of work from the Secret Cities Aberdeen, Cityscapes and Archive workshop and Photoshop master class.
We reserve the right to change the programme
Andrew Sage & Xanthe Bodington, Group Hug Hugs bring love to the world and fill it with joy and light.
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Impossible, Doric Smoorach (Doric Kiss) Giant interactive projected speaking heads, combining 3D scans of the audience with Doric poetry.
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Pa-BOOM, Hot Heads A series of newly commissioned fire busts of Aberdonian’s who shaped the city.
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Carlos Bernal, Adapt 5 A 3D audio visual experience using back projection, geometric patterns and multiple screens.
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Caitlind Brown r.c. and Wayne Garrett, Cloud A tribute to Scotland’s most ubiquitous invention - the incandescent light bulb, now retired to the annals of history. An interactive sculpture created from 6,000 light bulbs to form a cloud of light.
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#SpectraABDN www.spectraaberdeen.com
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