ABOUT US

Emma International Collaboration 2010
EMMA UNPLUGGED
DATES: July 26 to August 2, 2010
At the Ness Creek Festival Site in BIG RIVER, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA

Emma is going unplugged you say? What does that mean
and who would believe that was an appealing decision?

It all started at the Emma 2006 Collaboration. There was a delay in setting up the electrical distribution so people were without some power tools for over 24 hours. The creative juices were flowing and needed an outlet.

A large birch log was sitting waiting to be turned on the lathe. Someone spied an old exercise bicycle and with some creative engineering a groove was made in the flywheel, a rope belt attached to the log and BINGO! a human powered lathe was ready for action.

The result was some wonderful sculptural pieces that attracted numerous other participating artists.

The bark was carefully removed from the green log and used for the first sculpture. The log was then turned to shape, split into two halves, the center removed with a chainsaw and all parts were used for future sculptures.

i) Click here to view the bark, pealed from the tree when first mounted on the lathe.

ii) Click here to view the log after carving and decorating.

iii) Click here to view the center of the log, removed after turning.

NORTH/SOUTH RIPPLES

This magnificent wood sculpture exemplifies the true spirit of collaboration. When traditions from the Southern hemisphere meet the traditions of the Northern hemisphere and are fertilized by the culture and traditions of Emma a rare magic occurs that elevates the human spirit and the human connection in all of us.

See North/South Ripples by Dempsey Bob and Lyonel Grant (Emma 2008)

i) Complete North/South Ripples

ii) Details North/South Ripples

WHY UNPLUGGED?

There is always an evaluation after the collaboration. Some comments reflected a feeling that Emma had become predictable: There is always huge amounts of fun, late nights, great company and yet some fairly predictable work being produced. What could we do to move Emma to another level and capitalize on the history of innovative thought and impulsive risk taking? Michael Hosaluk, in one of his (many) moments of true creative genius, said “We should do a complete Emma without any power tools”.

The seed was planted and met with some resistance until people had time to think. Fairly quickly others fertilized and watered the unplugged idea and we are now on the path of no return to our first Emma unplugged.

What will this mean for participants?

The main objective is to see what can be created using no electrical power off the grid. This means no power tools, no chargers for battery powered tools, and no electric lights will be used to make objects.

WHAT WILL BE AVAILABLE?

• Wood working hand tools (Bring your own favorite ones)
• Coal and Propane forges, and other traditional Blacksmithing equipment
• Abundant raw materials from the Boreal Forest all around
• Parts pile
• Surface design, Painting, Print making
• Possibly solar panel lighting
• More to come on this later

WHAT WILL BE MISSING?

1. Power tools of any kind. (Think, saws, routers, drills, trip hammers, side grinders, welders, jointers, planers… you get the idea)
2. Amplified music (This will be music to some ears and a big drag for others)

WHAT WILL WE GAIN?

1. A return to traditional methods of creating
2. More time to talk to participants
3. Opportunities to be creative in adapting ways of making
4. Music will be made by participants

WHERE WILL ELECTICITY BE USED?

1. There will be regular use of power for showers, toilets, cooking, safety lighting.  This is not intended to be a hardship posting for living
2. The wind up party will use electricity in a normal fashion