FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is proud to present
Two Cutting-Edge Media Arts Exhibitions

Vital the General Public Welfare - October 6-23, 2011
Edward Day Gallery, 952 Queen Street West, Suite 200 near Queen and Shaw.
Artist Talk moderated by Steven Loft and Reception
Thurs, Oct. 20, 7:30-9:30 p.m. www.edwarddaygallery.com

S-O-S3 (signals of survival) - September 24-October 29, 2011
A Space Gallery, 401 Richmond St. West, Suite 110.
Curator Talk and Reception Friday, Oct. 21, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
www.aspacegallery.org

www.imagineNATIVE.org
(Toronto – October 11, 2011) The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival presents two media arts exhibitions currently running in downtown Toronto. These exhibitions mark the first time imagineNATIVE is presenting two shows as part of its annual Festival.

Vital to the General Public Welfare, imagineNATIVE’s first solo exhibition, features the work of Montreal-based digital media artist Jason Edward Lewis. This exciting and interactive exhibition includes six works that explore the digital and printed text through touchscreen monitors and large-scale prints. Viewers to the exhibition are invited to touch the screens to manipulate the digital content in order to play a role in the creation of Lewis’s art.

“We are incredibly thrilled to present our first solo show and to offer one of the most ground-breaking digital art exhibitions in Toronto,” says Jason Ryle, imagineNATIVE Executive Director. “Jason Edward Lewis’s use of poetry, physical print and onscreen text is the epitome of innovation in digital arts. This show is not to be missed.”

S-O-S3 (signals of survival) is the third and final group exhibition curated by artist Cheryl L’Hirondelle. Her curatorial triptych began in 2009 and explores how Indigenous artists have utilized technology over time to transmit, preserve and create culture – in essence, how technology has become a new “tool for survival” for Indigenous peoples. S-O-S3 features innovative work by Jason Baerg, Raven Chacon, Jason Lujan, Julie Nagam and Bear Witness.

“This final group exhibition by Cheryl L’Hirondelle marks a milestone for imagineNATIVE,” Ryle says. “Her first exhibition in this curatorial triptych was a significant development for the Festival in its presentation of media arts. Cheryl’s thoughtful, critical and insightful work has contributed immensely to the Festival’s continued commitment to showcasing diverse media arts as part of imagineNATIVE.”

These two exhibitions also feature three works commissioned by imagineNATIVE for its 2011 Festival, including new works by Jason Edward Lewis, Raven Chacon and Bear Witness.

Vital the General Public Welfare runs October 6-23, 2011 at the Edward Day Gallery, 952 Queen Street West, Suite 200 near Queen and Shaw.
Artist Talk moderated by Steven Loft and Reception
takes place Thursday, October 20 7:30-9:30 p.m. www.edwarddaygallery.com

S-O-S3 (signals of survival) runs September 24-October 29, 2011 at A Space Gallery, 401 Richmond Street West, Suite 110. Curator Talk and Reception takes place Friday, October 21 5:30-7:30 p.m. www.aspacegallery.org

About the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
imagineNATIVE is an international festival that celebrates the latest works by Indigenous peoples at the forefront of innovation in film, video, radio, and new media. Each October, the festival presents a selection of the most compelling and distinctive Indigenous works from around the globe. The festival's screenings, parties, panel discussions, and cultural events attract and connect filmmakers, media artists, programmers, buyers, and industry professionals. The works accepted reflect the diversity of the world's Indigenous nations and illustrate the vitality and excellence of our art and culture in contemporary media.
The 12th annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival takes place October 19-23, 2011.
The Festival is also pleased to announce the launch of its first iPhone App available for FREE download in English and French (compatible with Apple iOS products). imagineNATIVE’s App is your interactive event guide that plans and keeps track of all events and keeps you connected to everything at the Festival. imagineNATIVE also launches its new mobile website designed for use on all smartphones.

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE, BY PHONE AND IN PERSON STARTING OCTOBER 3 (Early-bird passes and tickets for Buffy Sainte-Marie are available NOW)

Online: www.imagineNATIVE.org
Phone: 416 599 TIFF (8433) (10am-10pm, daily)
In-Person: TIFF Bell Lightbox, Reitman Square, 350 King St. W (10am-10pm, daily)

PASSES
All-Access $110/$65 (early-bird $88)
Industry All-Access $90 (early-bird $72)
Screening $40/$24 (early-bird $32)
Weekend $65/$40 (early-bird $52)

TICKETS
Regular Screenings $7
Students/Seniors/Underemployed before 6pm FREE
Opening Night Screening and Party $12/$10
Opening Night Party only $8
Closing Night Screening and Awards Show $12/$10
The Beat featuring Buffy Sainte-Marie $20/$15

FREE
Welcome Gathering
Industry Series
New Media Installations
In Discussion with Buffy Sainte-Marie
Shorts Program II on Oct. 23, 2:45pm

For more information and the full Festival listings, visit: www.imaginenative.org

About imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
imagineNATIVE is an international festival that celebrates the latest works by Indigenous peoples at the forefront of innovation in film, video, radio, and new media. Each October, the Festival presents a selection of the most compelling and distinctive Indigenous works from around the globe. The Festival's screenings, Industry Series, and cultural and social events attract and connect filmmakers, media artists, programmers, buyers, and industry professionals. The works accepted reflect the diversity of the world's Indigenous nations and illustrate the vitality and excellence of our art and culture in contemporary media.

2011 Sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor: Bell Media
Gold: Aboriginal Peoples Television Network • Astral Radio • Deluxe • Slaight Music
Silver: Canada Media Fund • Casino Rama • Global Toronto • RBC Royal Bank
Bronze: Astral’s Harold Greenberg Fund • CBC • IsumaTV • TD Bank • Thunderbird Centre • TVO
Media: NAPT • NOW Magazine • SAY Magazine • Aboriginal Voices Radio 106.5FM • Xtra!
Public Funders: Canada Council for the Arts • Canadian Heritage • Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training • Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture • Ontario Arts Council • Telefilm Canada • Toronto Arts Council
Community Partners: A Space Gallery • ACTRA Toronto • Beehive Design • Charles Street Video • Edward Day Gallery • Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto • Native Canadian Centre of Toronto • National Film Board of Canada • V tape • William F. White • WIFT-Toronto • York University
Hospitality: Hilton Garden Inn • Joe Mamas • Keriwa Café
Friends: Air Creebec • DHL • SABAR • Technicolor
Foundations: Dreamcatcher Fund • The McLean Foundation • Metcalf Foundation • Ontario Trillium Foundation • The Pluralism Fund

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