Written By Seth Rowanwood
Blue Dot was an amazing multimedia art extravaganza that incorporated sculpture installations, DJ and live performances by experimental and more mainstream local and Toronto artists. It also had a suspended “Space Cow” performance by Anya Bananya that was high up in the air above the atrium of the warehouse. I had a chance to speak to Ian James Newton (spooloops), organizer and one of the featured artist (both sculptor and musician) about Blue Dot. He referenced Carl Sagan’s video as the inspiration.
One a side note, while in transit to the event, I was informed that a blue dot also plays a significant part in why fever helps autism amongst other things, it seem to point to a philosophical variation of Sagan’s blue dot. Being responsible for increasing cognitive faculties as in “attention span,” the blue dot is trying to get our attention. The blue dot as art, the planet and the brain maybe all be on the same page, ushering in a need for all of us to “wake up and pay attention.”
The rare Blue Dot events, curated by Zero to One studios, are much loved celebrations combining art, electronic music, film, food and fun. Blue Dot’s redefine the typical social space by utilizing the elevating ability of art, architecture and music. The event is both a celebration and experiential metaphor for our ability to choose how we interact with our world.
http://www.blue-dot.hotpierecords.com/
The DJ booth was an awesome light projection space.
Jackie Levitt tag teams with Siren Sativa on the VJ boxes during live and DJ performances in the atrium.
A suspended “Space Cow” performance by Anya Bananya.
In a commencement address delivered May 11, 1996, Sagan related his thoughts on the deeper meaning of the photograph:[15][5]
