Derry’s Imagine-Create festival focusses on creative technology in the areas of audio, image and new media.

Presented by the University of Ulster’s School of Creative Arts in collaboration with Derry City Council, Skillset Media Academy, North West Regional College, the Void Gallery and the Nerve Centre, the festival will offer an eclectic programme of performances, exhibitions, seminars, software demonstrations and workshops presented by leading international figures.

The varied daily programme will culminate in evening performances at venues across Derry city, giving audiences an opportunity to witness at first hand how leading creative artists are exploiting technological advances to create pioneering work.

Contemporary music highlights of the festival include a flagship inter/music event in the Great Hall at Ulster’s Magee Campus, featuring performances by leading international artists and innovative works by Irish-based composers, in addition to a performance, installation and presentation by leading experimental musician Scanner (Robin Rimbaud) at the Void Gallery.

International visitors include intermedia artist Virgil Moorefield, who will present two audiovisual works (his video piece, ‘Chicago Union Station’ and an excerpt from his new intermedia work ‘Five Ideas about the Relation of Sight and Sound’) and Gregory Taylor from Cycling 74 software (the markers of Max/MSP), who will perform a live electronic set influenced by Indonesian music.

In addition to this, Gregory will perform with Adam Melvin, lecturer in music at the School of Creative Arts, who will also be performing his mixed-media piece ‘Speak’ for saxophone, vocals, video and multichannel tape with Sarah Dacey from the acclaimed Juice Vocal Trio (artists-in-residence at Ulster).

Irish composer Jonathan Nangle will present his Alvin Lucier-inspired Crash Ensemble commission (sighing): oh...but we were monsters, for four-channel tape, two resonating snare drums and video. Enda Bates will perform his Works for Hexaphonic Guitar, a suite for an electric guitar fitted with a pickup that individually amplifies each string, allowing for a dynamic live performance in which the changing spatial location of the sound is controlled by standard instrumental techniques.

Further information: creativearts@ulster.ac.uk

Posted: 15 March 2009