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LIVE ARTS: Computer-generated projection to be displayed on downtown walls
LOLA: Revolution in the air

James Reaney Sun Media

September 19, 2008

Toronto artist Michelle Gay is staging a revolution in downtown London during this year's LOLA festival.

Multimedia artist Michelle Gay will project her art on the wall behind her from the roof of the Grand Theatre. (MORRIS LAMONT/Sun Media)

Gay's minute revolution, a live, computer-generated projection, had its world premiere last night on a Dufferin Avenue office building as LOLA opened its three-day run. The work has a punning title and plays on the words and title of the Beatles' song Revolution. Like any good pun, it will work in two places. Tonight, the Dufferin display will be joined by a projection almost 40 metres high. That will be projected from the Central Library area and seen on the City Centre complex.

The "minute" in the title can be said and understood two ways. The 60-second definition ("min-it") reflects the way each stanza takes about a minute to run through Gay's computer program.

Aided by her brother, a UBC particle physicist, the software program plays with the Beatles words. There are small changes as "revolution" becomes "rotation." Last night, one change turned "Chairman Mao" into "Chairman Enzyme."

Therefore, the meaning of minute as small -- with a change in pronunciation to "my-newt" -- is also appropriate, she says. To Gay's mind, the small step definition may win. "It's bit by bit by bit . . . this isn't hitting you over the head revolution," she says.

The Beatles song is sometimes known as Revolution No. 1. It has been noted for its ambivalent lyrics. The singer seems to say he can be counted "out and in" when it comes to certain revolutionary activities.

The third edition of the multi-arts festival opened last night with a gala, a tour of visual arts sites and DJs spinning at a club. LOLA's Victoria Park concerts join the mix today and tomorrow. London band Olenka and the Autumn Lovers play today at 4:30 p.m.

This year's visual artists at LOLA have created works using rock lyrics, song titles and even heavy metal tattoos to share fest space with the alt-rock sounds of its music.

"In terms of sheer scale, it's going to be quite a spectacle," LOLA artistic director and visual arts curator Paul Walde says of minute revolution's City Centre version. "That song was a nice tie-in to our current situation with elections both in Canada and the U.S." Gay is one of the artists who is back from LOLA 2007. "We have her on speed dial," says Walde.

Gay spent about three hours chilling on the Grand Theatre roof last night during minute revolution's world premiere. Tonight, she says she will bring a sweater.

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IF YOU GO

What: Third edition of LOLA (London Ontario Live Arts) festival. Most LOLA attractions are free. Galleria London offers four hours free parking today and tomorrow to the first LOLA 800 fans who bring their stub to one of the LOLA art docents to receive a validation. LOLA 2008 opened last night.

When: Continues today and tomorrow.

Where: Visual art at dozens of outdoor venues around downtown London, music at Victoria Park's Kiwanis bandshell and Call the Office.

Details: Visit lolafest.com (see link).

Today's LOLA music: Olenka & the Autumn Lovers, Tin, Bocce, The Drift, Do Make Say Think, 4:30 p.m. Victoria Park bandshell. Free. Club show: Woodhands, We Are Wolves, 11 p.m. Call the Office, 216 York St. (at Clarence). (519-432-4433). $10.



LOLA visual art: Sites around downtown London, including billboards, projections on buildings, neon signage, and light boxes.

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LOLA PICK

Visual art: Toronto artist Michelle Gay's work, titled minute revolution, is projected on the west-facing side of the City Centre building in downtown London. 8 p.m. and after.

Music: The Drift travels from San Francisco to bring dub and ambient sounds to a fall evening. California dreaming. Victoria Park, 8:15 p.m.

James Reaney is a Free Press arts and entertainment reporter.

WEB: lolafest.com

E-MAIL: James Reaney

CLICK HERE to read James Reaney's blog daily for LOLA updates

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