Latest news with #KenGregory
Winnipeg Free Press
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
One man's trash… is another man's art career
Pioneering sound and media artist Ken Gregory has won this year's Manitoba Arts Award of Distinction presented by the Manitoba Arts Council. The Winnipegger, whose work brings a certain 'mad scientist' wit and rigour to the installation environment, is widely noted as having shaped generations of local artists. One of his best-known pieces is his playful sound installation 12 Motor Bells (2004) — where the clangs of 12 old fire alarms become lulling tones that respond to viewers' presence — which now enriches the National Gallery of Canada's permanent collection. Coycet La Mort (2020) is a spider-like robot with a dog's skull for a head. Over his 30-year career, the 65-year-old artist has also played a formative role in such institutional mainstays of the local tech art scene as Send + Receive: A Festival of Sound and Video Pool Media Arts Centre. 'When I was getting started in the '80s, other artists handed me the artist's hat and I didn't think it fit,' says Gregory by email. 'But I started participating in the rich and diverse art and music community, a community that was accepting, supportive and friendly. This environment allowed me to develop.' 'I now wear the hat proudly.' Accomplishments like those mentioned made him a shoo-in, said his nominators, for the $30,000 prize recognizing outstanding artistic achievement and impact on the province's arts community. 'Gregory is an 'artist's artist,' who is held in the highest esteem by his peers,' wrote Winnipeg-born artists Daniel Barrow and Clint Enns, his nominators. 'His practice often involves a form of creative problem-solving, transforming discarded and abandoned material into inspired artworks. He is always quick to share his techniques and offer creative solutions to other artists.' It's said that one man's trash is another's treasure. Supplied Artist Ken Gregory specializes in transforming discarded items into works of art. And while Gregory may not always restore 'utility' to the discarded objects and gadgetry he lovingly hacks and works with, he gives it a curious new life treasured by his fans and audiences. In Coycet La Mort (2020), the artist fashions a spider-like robot with blades for legs and a dog's skull for a head. In Sun Sucker (2020), Gregory has the audacity to add even more buzzing pests to the outdoors — only these charming insect-like audio organisms, powered by solar energy, can't bite. In 2004 — the same year his work was the subject of a book by Robert Enright and published by Plug In Gallery — Border Crossings magazine observed that viewers often described his exhibits as a sort of futuristic zoo, 'filled with chirping, shrieking, humming noise emanating from exotic creatures.' Although Gregory is also capable of striking elegance and beauty: his large-scale kinetic sound sculpture Wind Coil Sound Flow (2009), as pretty to the eye as the ear, turns wind into music with an instrument made of wires, coils and electronics. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'Ken's work represents a thoughtful, often poetic engagement with both technology and the natural world,' says Katarina Kupca, chair of the Manitoba Arts Council, an arm's-length agency of the Province of Manitoba. 'Ken is an artist of the highest calibre and the impact of his work in sound and media art is immeasurable, not just in Manitoba, but across the country.' For all these accolades, Gregory thanks the curators, jurors, gallery directors and peers who 'took a risk' having him participate in their programs. In pieces such as 2009's Wind Coil Sound Flow, Gregory's art combines both visual and audible appeal. 'I'm honoured, humbled, proud (to receive this award),' he adds. Documentation of many of Gregory's works can be seen on his YouTube channel, Cheap Meat Dreams and Acorns. Previous recipients of the Manitoba Arts Award of Distinction include Jennine Krauchi (2024), Di Brandt (2023), Daina Warren (2022), and Alan Greyeyes (2020). Conrad SweatmanReporter Conrad Sweatman is an arts reporter and feature writer. Before joining the Free Press full-time in 2024, he worked in the U.K. and Canadian cultural sectors, freelanced for outlets including The Walrus, VICE and Prairie Fire. Read more about Conrad. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Winnipeg sound and media artist Ken Gregory wins $30K distinction award
Ken Gregory, known for his kindness and generosity as much as his creativity in transforming discarded and abandoned material into inspired artworks, has been awarded the 2025 Manitoba Arts Award of Distinction. The $30,000 prize is given annually to a professional artist or arts/cultural professional in recognition of the highest level of artistic excellence and contribution to the development of the arts in Manitoba, said a news release from the Manitoba Arts Council. "For over 30 years, Ken has been a trailblazer in the arts sector, building an impressive body of performance and installation work in sound, video, computer programming, hardware hacking, interactive electronics and robotics," the news release says about the award. "Truly an artist ahead of his time," he was integral to the success of countless organizations, such as Video Pool Media Arts Centre and send + receive: A Festival of Sound. Gregory's practice has taken him across the world, participating in prestigious residencies and exhibitions from Finland to Australia and Berlin. His work has been exhibited across Canada and internationally, including his audio installation 12 Motor Bells, which was acquired by the National Gallery of Ottawa. That installation features 12 fire alarm bells hanging next to 12 wheels of brushes. Movement in the room, or temperature changes, are detected by sensors and communicated to the motorized brush wheels, which then graze the bells and create a vibrating shimmer at a low volume, an artist statement says. Gregory maintains a YouTube page called Cheap Meat Dreams and Acorns, where he shares video documentation of many of his media artworks. Fellow artists Daniel Barrow and Clint Enns, who nominated Gregory for the award, describe him as an artist's artist who is held in the highest esteem by his peers, says the news release. "He is always quick to share his techniques and offer creative solutions to other artists. This openness and willingness to experiment is fundamental to his practice and is combined with a rigorous analysis and critique — a rare combination that has infiltrated the Canadian art scene in incalculable ways due to Gregory's kindness and determined protocol for generosity," the nomination says. All nominations for the award were reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel of peers who made their decision based on the artistic excellence of the candidate's work and their contribution to the development of the arts in Manitoba, the news release says. Past award of distinction recipients include Jennine Krauchi (2024), Di Brandt (2023), Daina Warren (2022) and Alan Greyeyes (2020).
CBC
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Winnipeg sound and media artist Ken Gregory wins $30K distinction award
Ken Gregory, known for his kindness and generosity as much as his creativity in transforming discarded and abandoned material into inspired artworks, has been awarded the 2025 Manitoba Arts Award of Distinction. The $30,000 prize is given annually to a professional artist or arts/cultural professional in recognition of the highest level of artistic excellence and contribution to the development of the arts in Manitoba, said a news release from the Manitoba Arts Council. "For over 30 years, Ken has been a trailblazer in the arts sector, building an impressive body of performance and installation work in sound, video, computer programming, hardware hacking, interactive electronics and robotics," the news release says about the award. "Truly an artist ahead of his time," he was integral to the success of countless organizations, such as Video Pool Media Arts Centre and send + receive: A Festival of Sound. Ken Gregory's electro-mechanical sound installation wind coil sound flow transforms wind-generated vibrations on a kite's towline into harmonic frequencies. (Submitted by the Manitoba Arts Council) Gregory's practice has taken him across the world, participating in prestigious residencies and exhibitions from Finland to Australia and Berlin. His work has been exhibited across Canada and internationally, including his audio installation 12 Motor Bells, which was acquired by the National Gallery of Ottawa. That installation features 12 fire alarm bells hanging next to 12 wheels of brushes. Movement in the room, or temperature changes, are detected by sensors and communicated to the motorized brush wheels, which then graze the bells and create a vibrating shimmer at a low volume, an artist statement says. Gregory maintains a YouTube page called Cheap Meat Dreams and Acorns, where he shares video documentation of many of his media artworks. Motorized brushes graze fire alarm bells and create a vibrating shimmer in Ken Gregory's installation 12 motor bells. (Cheap Meat Dreams and Acorns/YouTube) Fellow artists Daniel Barrow and Clint Enns, who nominated Gregory for the award, describe him as an artist's artist who is held in the highest esteem by his peers, says the news release. "He is always quick to share his techniques and offer creative solutions to other artists. This openness and willingness to experiment is fundamental to his practice and is combined with a rigorous analysis and critique — a rare combination that has infiltrated the Canadian art scene in incalculable ways due to Gregory's kindness and determined protocol for generosity," the nomination says. All nominations for the award were reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel of peers who made their decision based on the artistic excellence of the candidate's work and their contribution to the development of the arts in Manitoba, the news release says. Past award of distinction recipients include Jennine Krauchi (2024), Di Brandt (2023), Daina Warren (2022) and Alan Greyeyes (2020).
Winnipeg Free Press
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ken Gregory wins Manitoba Arts Award of Distinction
The Manitoba Arts Council announced Thursday Ken Gregory as the winner of the 2025 Manitoba Arts Award of Distinction. The $30,000 prize is awarded annually to a professional artist or arts/cultural professional who has demonstrated the highest level of artistic excellence and contribution to the development of the arts in the province. Gregory, a sound and media artist based in Winnipeg, has been a trailblazer in the arts sector for more than 30 years, with a body of performance and installation work in sound, video, computer programming, hardware hacking, interactive electronics and robotics. He was integral to the success of Video Pool Media Arts Centre and Send + Receive: A Festival of Sound. Gregory's work has been exhibited across Canada and internationally; his installation of 12 Motor Bells was acquired by the National Gallery of Ottawa. 'MAC is so pleased to honour Ken Gregory with the 2025 Manitoba Arts Award of Distinction,' said Katarina Kupca, chair of the Manitoba Arts Council, an arm's-length agency of the Province of Manitoba. 'Ken's art practice has always been a unique and thoughtful exploration. His approach to using technology is as much about the natural world and engaging with audiences as it is about wires and hardware.' Previous Award of Distinction recipients include Jennine Krauchi (2024), Di Brandt (2023), Daina Warren (2022), and Alan Greyeyes (2020).
