Urbanvessel creates new performance works through interdisciplinary collaboration. Rooted in music and sound, the power of the human voice is at the centre of our creative process. Led by composer Juliet Palmer and drawing upon the diverse talents of our collaborators, Urbanvessel fuses sound, music, text, imagery and movement. At the intersection of multiple disciplines and cultures we forge new connections, reflect contemporary life and subvert social assumptions, altering the audience’s perspective on their world. Urbanvessel shares knowledge through our educational programmes and community outreach activities.
Urbanvessel was founded in 2006 by Palmer and architect Christie Pearson. Our works have been inspired by disparate impulses: from sound, politics, fetishes, history and ritual to poverty, architecture, music and sports. Our creative response to the source material is filtered through a shared feminist perspective.
A new interdisciplinary team is formed for each project, organized horizontally so that artistic decisions are made collaboratively. Our methodology combines improvisation and composition in tandem with an inclusive process for critical feedback and revision.
Works to date: the city-wide improvisational FOUR LINES (soundaXis Festival, Toronto 2006), SLIP for the Harrison Baths (X Avant Festival, Toronto 2006), THE PROVINCE OF IMPOSSIBLE (Voice++ Festival, Open Space Arts, Victoria 2007; Sound Symposium 2008; Ottawa Chamber Music Festival), STITCH (Freefall Festival/World Stage 2008) and VOICE-BOX (Harbourfront World Stage 2010, Fresh Ground New Work commission).
Contact: info@urbanvessel.com
