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Press Release- soma/somo - Opening Thursday June 8

From: Myfanwy Ashmore   myfanwy_ashmoreacc.ocad.on.ca
Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2000 14:12:56 -0700

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for immediate release Wed. June 1

Soma/ Somo part 1 by, Myfanwy Ashmore 
Opening June 8, 2000. 7-11 pm.
Gallery hours: June 8-24, thurs-sat. 12-5 pm. or by appointment
at:The ART Firm non funded not for profit cultural centre and international
residency

	The ART Firm got wind of a work of art that was being debated during a
Federal  Parliamentary question period a while back and was eager to find
out what spawned the discussion of art by folks who at best can't normally
agree on the need for uncontaminated water, air and food. It turns out that
these inept spin-doctors and politicians got a talk'n High Art, due to an
expenditure report from the Canada Councils year-end grant budget. Siteing
in particular a wonderful proposal conjured up by a one Miss Myfanwy
Ashmore and described as by one Honourable Minister as a, "communication
device to interact with rotting grapefruits."  We at the ART Firm find the
public debate to be almost as interesting as the work itself and since it
also fits in nicely with our mandate we could not hesitate to be the first
to show this work. 

Soma/Somo Network: part one is Myfanwy Ashmore's most recent work
involving a network of slowly decaying grapefruits. The soma/somo network
allows the viewer/participant to communicate with and impact upon a series
of interconnected grapefruits. The grapefruits collective voltage is being
measured and interpreted for communication.  The communication takes place
via telephones, computers, speakers and other electronic devices. As the
grapefruits eventually decay, they no longer can produce a charge. The
communication relates to that decaying process and voltage loss and you,
the participant. Eventually, the grapefruits can no longer hold any charge
and the communication ceases to exist.The soma/somo network's function is
to find a way to negotiate an intimacy and possible compassion with
something viewed as disappearing or a loss in progress, perhaps dying.
There is also loss while still salvaging from the remains of the 'end of
the world', rebuilding of relationships lost-(or searching for what never
existed) during the television babysitter, zoodles, jello, bionic man and
bionic woman, hardwired pacman, Print 10 AM I ALIVE? Go To 10, bob barker,
the price is so not right, era. 
Quotes of interest:

"Federal  officials vigorously defended more than $100-million in Canada
Council arts Grants as Bizarre details of the projects that received money
emerged yesterday."
Mark Stevenson, National Post,Wed. Feb. 16

"Although I do find it amusing, I cannot defend a$4100 grant to create a
Communication Device to interact with rotting grapefruit."
Mordecai Richler Sunday 27 February 2000 ,  The Gazette.

"This is the same organisation which justifies grants and contributions for
rotting Grapefruit displays and dead rabbit exhibits."
Inky Mark, Reform's official critic of things heritage, cultural and artistic 

"why would anyone want to talk to grapefruits?" "why would anyone want to
hear anyone talk? to hear what they have to say." Myfanwy Ashmore

The ART Firm is located at 135 Tecumseh Street, Toronto, Ontario, M6J 2H2,
(416)  504 - 5199

artfirm@xxxxxxxxxxxx				

						-30-
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  -== Myfanwy Ashmore ==-
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