Ever wanted to float among the clouds? Now鈥檚 your chance, as part of an art project happening in 性视界传媒 over the next four months.

A new interactive outdoor work called is in the forecast at , the digital-art showcase located on the west wall of Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre.

Starting this week the Estonia-based artist duo known as Varvara & Mar, formed by Varvara Guljajeva and Mar Canet in 2009, will aim to delight viewers with what they call a playful twist on the self-portrait: the cloud portrait.

Using a Microsoft Kinect camera and software designed for the project, 鈥淲e Are the Clouds鈥� captures images of people and re-interprets them into the form of clouds.

鈥淰isitors can perform live in front of an onsite kiosk and have their 鈥榗loud persona鈥� appear immediately onscreen, projected onto a brilliant blue sky across the side of the recreation centre,鈥� explains an event advisory. 鈥淐apturing only the silhouette of a given participant, the technology allows all prospective cloud-makers to contribute to the formation of an ephemeral cloud community, which will appear on the screen.鈥�

A preview-night event is planned for Thursday (Jan. 23) starting at 8 p.m.

(story continues below video showing UrbanScreen)

Leading up to this week鈥檚 opening, people were invited to attend production workshops with the artists, where their on-camera performances were recorded to create the initial body of imagery.

鈥溾�橶e Are the Clouds鈥� is a lot of fun, but it is also a subtle commentary on the relationship between play-making and community-building,鈥� said Rhys Edwards, assistant curator at 性视界传媒 Art Gallery, which operates UrbanScreen as a satellite venue. 鈥淓very participant鈥檚 movement becomes part of a larger choreography, where people鈥檚 gestures play off of each other to create a space of generosity, leisure and calm.鈥�

From Jan. 30 to April 26, the cloud-y showcase of silhouettes will be visible nightly starting 30 minutes after sunset, until midnight. The public screen can be viewed from the rec centre parking lot, at 13458 107A Ave., and also from Skytrain cars that travel past.

鈥� RELATED STORY: Point鈥檚 鈥楽pindle Whorl鈥� featured next at 性视界传媒 Art Gallery.

In addition to 鈥淲e Are the Clouds,鈥� 性视界传媒 Art Gallery鈥檚 exhibits this winter include 鈥淪usan Point: Spindle Whorl, a display of silkscreen prints from the Vancouver Art Gallery, and 鈥淒on Li-Leger: Counting the Steps of the Sun,鈥� featuring works from the late artist. An opening reception for the latter two exhibits is planned for 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 25) at the gallery, located at Bear Creek Park.

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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