Stan Olthuis

Interconnected

April 20 – June 16, 2024

Interconnected is a solo exhibition of work by Stan Olthuis. Grounding the entire project is Mira la Vida, a large-scale kinetic sculpture comprised of two eight-foot intersecting discs representing the elements of our world: water, earth, fire, and air. These two connected circles create a balance in tension, a dialogue in temporary suspension, on the precipice of movement. These geometric forms are echoed throughout the space, symbols of exchange and relationality.

This work marks a significant point of development in Stan Olthuis’ practice and is his first project to include a responsive dance performance.

Danza de la Vida is a commissioned responsive dance performance animating the Mira la Vida. The performance explores life in all its complexity in various states and emotions, moving with the underlying mathematic rhythm of sacred geometry as the bodies find balance in relation to each other and their world.

Stan Olthuis is a Canadian multi-disciplinary visual artist currently based in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough. His work is driven by an ongoing curiosity of our relationship to the world around us. Often reinterpreting persistent symbolisms such as sacred geometry, Olthuis explores spatial tension and interaction through abstract shapes and audience provocations powered by a colourful palette. Working with metal trowels, power tools, propane torches, and materials such as wood, house paint, stone, rubber, and found objects, Olthuis constructs paintings and sculpture that welcome audience involvement and relate to the body. There’s a joy in the rawness and immediacy. Olthuis’ formal art education started in Chicago with Henrik Krijger, a celebrated Dutch master printmaker, type designer, painter, and sculptor. He holds a degree in Experimental Arts from the Ontario College of Art.

PERFORMANCE:

Danza de la Vida

April 20, 2:30 pm

June 16, 2:00 pm, closing reception to follow

Performances are free to attend, seating is limited.

RELATED EVENT:

Opening Reception: Saturday, April 20 from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. An accompanying performance, Danza de la Vida, will coincide with the opening. Performance begins at 2:30 pm.

Closing Reception: Sunday, June 16, 2:00 pm

Performance Credits:

Choreographed by Kate Alton
Performed by Kate Alton, Ryan Kerr, and Kate Story
Costumes by Martha Cockshutt
Sound by Karol Orzechowski
Lighting by Ryan Kerr
Videography by Michael Morritt
Concept and Creative Direction by Stan Olthuis

Additional Bios

Kate Alton is an award-winning dancer and choreographer who has performed on stages around the globe.

Kate Story is a genderqueer writer and performer living and working in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough with extensive experience in interdisciplinary collaboration.

Ryan Kerr is a performance artist and is the Artistic Director for The Theatre on King, a hub for new and risk-taking performance creation.

Karol Orzechowski (Garbageface) is a musician, sound designer, and filmmaker. Garbageface has clocked nearly 400 performances across North America, working across doom rap and trance genres, as well as live performance soundtracks.

Matha Cockshutt is a Nogojiwanong/Peterborough based artist whose 40-year career has focussed on costume, set design, and construction for theatre, dance, and performance.

Michael Morritt is a video editor, cinematographer, animator, and graphic designer currently based in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough.

This work is supported by Theatre Trent and a Grant for Individual Artists (Component 2), a program administered by the Electric City Culture Council on behalf of the City of Peterborough.