ART PARTIES
Hercinia Art Parties are gatherings in which art displays, happenings and performances blend into an experiential event. Wander, socialize, mingle, explore and become immersed in/inspired by art.
These are multi- and inter-disciplinary events comprising anything that falls into the category of art including: clown, poetry, spoken word, aerial acrobatics, acrobatic dance, contemporary dance, stand-up comedy, storytelling, photography, sketch comedy, installation art, performance art, script readings, burlesque, object manipulation, human statue, physical theatre, paintings, live music performance, DJs, durational performance, interactive games and activities, lip synch battles, films and more.
ART PARTIES PAST:
What Am I? - April 2023
(Un)usual Spaces - Sept/Oct 2020 (Virtual Art Party)
Slumber Party - Dec 2019
Grotesque - May 2019
Are You Afraid of the Dark? - Oct 2018
The Other Side - June 2018
Transit - March 2018
Film Noir - November 2017
Heroes & Villains - April 2017
Algebra & Geometry - March 2017
Underwater - February 2017
Goodbye Mash Up - January 2017
Knowing/Not Knowing/Pretending - November 2016
Speakeasy - October 2016
Vegetables - September 2016
Smells Like Teen Spirit - May 2016
Night at the Museum - April 2016
Holodeck - March 2016
Mash Up - Feb 2016
Narnia - Jan 2016
Solstice - Dec 2015
Getting Older - Nov 2015
Are You Afraid of the Dark - Oct 2015
Halloween - Nov 2013
Water, Water Everywhere - April 2011
Raise the Roof - Sept 2010
Oddities - July 2009
Fairies and Tales - June 2009
Word: An Aerial Poetry Jam - May 2009
A Jazzy Little Opening - April 2009
Art Parties have been a staple of Hercinia’s programming since our inception in 2009 with the purpose of providing a platform for artists to share new and experimental art and to stimulate an active engagement among artistic peers and audience through the “party” atmosphere of the event.
In line with Hercinia’s mandate of blending forms and encouraging innovation in circus, we actively promote artists to cross-pollinate with each other, often through “mash-up” projects where artists of different disciplines are matched by curators and asked to come up with something together.
Artists are selected through an open call for submissions and curated based on their proposal and its relevance to each party’s theme. Watch for our next open call on our events page.
PEEP
A multidisciplinary art event where audiences peep through windows to view surprise performances taking place inside a box.
PEEP is a site-specific Art Party, created as a modern interpretation of a peep show. A custom constructed peep box is the stage for unique, specially created performances and installations.
Audience members peep through our geometric windows to catch a surprise durational performance or installation in a variety of art forms including dance, circus arts, performance art, creative technology, film, drag, burlesque, puppetry and more.
“A totally magical experience.” - Dimitri
PEEP was first presented at a private residence in June 2021 and again as a public presentation at The Bentway Conservancy in October 2021 with funding from The Canada Council for the Arts’ Digital Now program. Alongside the in-person viewings, we presented a livestream and extended digital gallery, which included closed captioning and artist made creative visual descriptions for each piece.
A photograph looking through a round hole of Oriah Wiersma & Amanda Pye performing in their piece ‘now’ at the first PEEP in June 2021.
PEEP went on to tour art festivals in 2022 with presentations at the
In the Soil Arts Festival (St Catharines) and Nuit Blanche North (Huntsville).
Original concept & curation: Madi Seignoret & Kirsten Edwards
Peep Box Fabrication: Charissa Wilcox, Artistic Producer of Flying Solo
CIRQUE DU POULET
A fun, zany and sometimes saucy contemporary circus cabaret featuring original creations and performances from some of Ontario’s top circus talents. Includes a variety of acts including aerial acrobatics, physical comedy, juggling, stilt dance, burlesque and more!
This show is available for public and private bookings and specific acts and length can be catered to fit your event and budget. Contact us today to get the conversation started.
Philip and Lucinda in Cirque du Poulet, March 2019, photo by Lori Ryerson.
Curation: Emily Hughes & Nicole Acaso
Featuring: Philip and Lucinda of The Grand Salto Theatre (Myque Franz and Zita Nyarady), Eric Liu, Kalen Davidson, Natayu Mildenberger, Scotty Dont, Rubie Magnitude, Nicole Malbeuf of Trellis Entertainment, Money Fish (Emily Hughes, Sandra Crljenica & Natalie Parkinson), Vanita Butrsingkorn, LeeAnn Ball and Laura McMillan, guest dancers David and Ivy, Sara Greenberg
Tech: Zel Tyrant (SM) & Jacob Dupley (Lighting)
Originally presented as a celebration of Hercinia’s 10th anniversary at The Redwood Theatre in Toronto in March 2019. Remounted in May 2022 at Cambium Farms with support from the Ontario Arts Council. Available for bookings throughout Ontario.
CREATIVE PROCESS
A site-specific performance installation taking place inside the street-facing Bayside Gallery.
In January 2023, 8 Artists took up residence inside the Bayside Gallery to create new, site-specific durational performances, while showcasing their creative process to the public.
By using a public facing gallery space, Creative Process seeks to highlight the often invisible work of performance artists and the lack of available, affordable space to create work, while offering an incubating opportunity in a unique setting.
Original concept & curation: Emily Hughes & Kirsten Edwards
Featuring: Renee Frigault, Sarah Kim & Jen Hum, Andra Ragusila, Abbey Richen, Melissa Yang, Kirsten Edwards & Emily Hughes