Victoria Fenner 905-379-7201 Summary Victoria Fenner is a writer, journalist and sound artist. For the past two decades she has worked in community and public radio in the Canada and the United States. She takes a creative approach towards sound making, using her microphone to gather sounds and her computer to organize them in ways which reflect the way she hears the world . In addition to her own compositions, she has also created sound art anthologies of artists across Canada which have been played on radio stations across the world. Her main interest now is to help people explore their own lives, their communities and their world through electronic media. With a background in both journalism and art, one of her goals is to create, and help others create, works which portray reality in a creative and evocative way. She believes that media arts can be used as a powerful tool to bring about personal and social change, and that the microphone especially is an inventive and significant tool for self expression and empowerment. Sound Art Works Works in Progress "You Can't Miss It" - a mythical road trip throughout the twisting, winding roads of central Appalachia which demonstrates that nothing in this place is where or what it seems. "The Queen of Bees Had Myriads to Please ... " - a dark fantasy, exploring the power dynamic of the beehive ... who has power, and what happens when it is used. This work includes documentary sound of bees and beekeepers, sound poems, and general bee buzz. Thanks to Penn Kemp for the inspiration and the title, as well as sound fragments from her bee poems. B-b-b-b-b Completed works (partial list) Capital Resoundings - a suite of audio compositions exploring the soundscape of Ottawa, Canada in the first year of this new millennium. The suite includes four soundwalks of significant locations in Ottawa and four artistic interpretations of these locations. Many hours of recordings were gathered during the summer of 2000, with the first three works in the series already completed and posted on the web (www.magneticspirits.com). Funded in part by the Region of Ottawa-Carleton. Outside In - (first movement) - inspired by the SARS crisis in Toronto in the spring of 2003, this piece explores what happens when a foreign, unknown presence imposes itself where it is not wanted. A three part piece which moves from fear to acceptance. Composed for the Deep Wireless Radio Art Festival, (April 2003). The Appalshopper - produced for the Appalshop Media Arts Centre in Whitesburg, Kentucky. A sound installation presented in conjunction with "The Appalshopper Show", an exhibit of artwork and items about the people who volunteer and/or work at Appalshop. The sound installation provides some insights into what makes Appalshop work, and the unique dynamics which happen when artists, administrators, and volunteers put their thoughts, dreams and ideas together under one roof. (2001) No Time for Silence - produced for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's radio program "Out of the Blue". Exploring our "quiet spaces". . . where they are and how to find them. (2000) People of the Moon - produced collaboratively with Ottawa artist Douglas Samuel for the CBC Radio program "Outfront". A re-creation of the week long "Full Moon Audio Art Camp" through adventurous sound. (2000) ReRF: a radio re-creation, in which the sounds of radio stations and the radio airspace from Toronto to Vancouver are re-arranged, re-ordered and presented as a reinterpretation Canada's radio soundspace. (1982) The Current Situation: Vancouver in the early 1980's was a place of many contradictions. In "The Current Situation", the peace and tranquillity of the natural world is contrasted to the social turmoil as people fought in the streets to end the arms race, reverse the social agenda of the Bill Bennett Socreds, and bring about a fair and just province in pre-Expo Vancouver. This piece was composed in 1998, though the raw footage was collected in 1982-83. Deconstructed Language: composed by Victoria Fenner and Michael Waterman at the Full Moon Over Killaloe Audio Art Camp. Inspired by a statement by another Full Moon participant asking how to present the sound of words but remove their literal meaning. Contrasts natural language with electronically mediated language. (1999) Audio Art Radio Series: "Ultrasonique" - Audio Art in Quebec - researcher/curator - commissioned by Outfront, CBC Radio 1, this series consisted of 10 fifteen minute radio episodes. They were broadcast in prime time in the fall of 2003 and winter of 2004. Radiant Dissonance Editions One and Two - Producer and Curator - a ten part radio series featuring the works of ten Canadian audio artists - the first edition was completed and distributed to radio stations in April 2000; the second in January 2003. Various writings on topics focusing on JournalismIn addition to her artistic work, Victoria is also a seasoned radio journalist, having produced dozens of interviews, documentaries and news reports. She is currently working with the new series "Green Planet Monitor" with prairie based Earth Chronicle Productions, and will be going to India in October to research stories about global sustainability. She has produced stories for several Earth Chronicle Radio series in recent years - More Than Just a Dozen (women's rights); Children of the Earth (children, war and poverty); and Global Youthspeak (participatory radio journalism project for youth, in conjunction with World Interaction Mondiale, an Ottawa based NGO). She has worked for CBC Radio in many capacities, including freelance writer/broadcaster; current affairs associate producer and also as a production technician, and also in community radio stations. Workshops/TeachingUniversity of Windsor - January - April 2006 - Radio Broadcast Instructor, Communication Studies Department Ontario Arts Council - Recipient of an Artist in the Schools grant to do audio art workshops, and to create course modules for teachers on the teaching of audio art 2004. Creative Radio Initiative: Producer - A three year educational program by the Canadian Society for Independent Production to explore community radio as artspace. Funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the project involves workshops on radio drama, electronic literature, documentaries, soundscapes, and audio art, plus web based training materials. Radio that Hears the Soundscape + producer + a weekend workshop held in Toronto in April 2002 to help radio producers develop new artistic approaches towards soundscape composition on the air. Radio Netherlands - Hilversum, the Netherlands - Course Instructor - "Building Community from Within" - a Train the Trainer Course for Community Radio Station Managers in the Developing World - May 2001. Bells and Whistles - A Sound Art Workshop for Artists - Producer - August 21 and 22 nd , 1999, held at the National Library of Canada (CSIRP project) Sound Unbound - Producer - held concurrently with the National Campus and Community Radio Conference, held in Ottawa from June 11- 14, 2000. A gathering of artists to dialogue with community radio people about Canadian audio art; to discuss audio art and audience development in concert, gallery and broadcast settings; and to perform audio art works for conference delegates and the general public. Funded by the Canada Council and the Ontario Trillium Foundation Full Moon Over Killaloe - An Audio Art Retreat in the Ottawa Valley - August 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 - Founder and Producer - A project of the Canadian Society for Independent Radio Production. Sound Carvings - Audio Art in Performance - Producer - 4 audio art performances featuring the works of four artists, held in June 1987 at the Community Arts Council Gallery, Vancouver Lectures - Guest Lecturer on topics related to Audio Art in Canada at Brooklyn College (New York) , University of Windsor (Windsor) , Ontario College of Art and Design (Toronto), Concordia University (Montreal); University of Toronto; Mohawk College (Hamilton) Media Production and Management Experience • Outfront - CBC Radio 1 - September 2002-June 2003 - Contract position to assist the program staff in developing new art based approaches to radio production and to develop ways to work with Canadian audio artists. • CFMU FM McMaster University - Station Manager 1992- 1998 • CBC Toronto - Associate Producer - Radio Current Affairs 1987-90 • CBC Vancouver - 1983-87 - Worked in various capacities including studio technician, production and freelance broadcaster (regular on-air contributor to "Monitor" - a British Columbia arts program, and "The Arts Report" - CBC Stereo's national arts newscast.) • CFRO Radio - Vancouver Co-op Radio 1982-87 - First producer of "newsounds gallery" a Canada Council funded program. Produced many radio programs about art. Developed and taught training courses for volunteer radio broadcasters. • CBC Windsor (Radio & TV) Production technician - 1977-1980- Worked for CBC Radio as studio technician, providing technical production for the daily afternoon shows, and for pre-recorded interviews, documentaries, local newscasts. Also worked for CBC TV as a videotape/telecine operator on production crews. Miscellaneous: • A member of the In and Out of the Studio Project , an initiative by Concordia University, Montreal, to explore issues of gender and technology in the sound studio. As part of this project, Victoria copresented at a workshop affiliated with the Newfoundland Sound Symposium, 2004. She will also be presenting at a special conference on the subject in July 2005. • Appalshop Media Arts Centre, Whitesburg Kentucky - organized and facilitated workshops on creative radio and audio art for the volunteers of WMMT, Appalshop's community radio station (winter of 2001/2001). Also provided individual lessons on studio production and digital audio production to radio station staff and Appalshop film makers. Worked as consulting producer and editor for Roadside Theatre's audio drama production "Red Fox Second Hanging", which was broadcast in the fall of 2002; also designed and taught a three day training workshop on interview and listening skills for youth at risk in Cincinnati as part of a joint project between WMMT and the Urban Appalachian Council. Also, participate in fundraising and development for the radio station and helped design grant based funding projects. • Cambridge Bay Communications Society, Nunavut - Provided a 7 day training workshop for a new community based radio station. • Various Art Radio Productions , which can be found at www.magneticspirits.com • Inspired the creation of the character "Victoria Penner, Small but Vital Reporter" on CBC Radio's comedy program "Double Exposure" • Canadian Society for Independent Radio Production - Founding board member - CSIRP provides training and resources to radio producers, with a special emphasis on community radio. Created the Full Moon Audio Art Camp. • National Campus and Community Radio Conference - June 17-22, 1996, Hamilton, Ontario - Co-chair and Workshop Coordinator - Planned all aspects of this six day conference (with a conference committee of 6), developed a comprehensive workshop schedule, located facilitators and assisted them in the preparation of their workshops. • First Conference on Native Broadcasting - March 1995, Orillia, Ontario - Workshop Facilitator -- "Creating Radio Programming which Reflects your Community" • Community Arts Council of Vancouver - Chairperson - Public Programming Committee. 1985-1987 • Vancouver Pro Musica - Assistant Manager in charge of marketing and communications. 1985 • Vancouver New Music Society - Production Co-ordinator for several concerts. (1983-84) Academic Qualifications: * Bachelor of Arts. Communication Studies. University of Windsor . 1980. Affiliations/Memberships: Association of Independents in Radio |
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