I sat down with Cameron Denby, Marimba | Percussionist to document his creative process as a performer. We had a great afternoon talking about art and how we interact with people through our medium, and I was able to capture a very cool and intimate performance.
I always enjoy working with other artists and talking about why we do what we love. Cameron was genuine and so talented, I am always grateful for this kind of collaboration and the chance to document an artistic process.
Over laying footage is so satisfying, inverting and pairing images can lead you to visual places that are familiar and obscure. This footage was shot at the end of winter, and these white snow covered spaces bring me back into the season. I looped audio of a poem about winter into the clip and I think it pairs so well.
Downtown Winnipeg on an overcast spring day, watching a friend bike home through streets of the Exchange District. The city felt alive and I was thankful I could catch this little moment from the fire escape of my studio building.
Took my bike and camera and went for a ride the other day. The afternoon was blustery, overcast and kind of perfect. The city looked beautiful. Ended up on the Arlington Bridge, a classic design with a beautiful view of the downtown. Snapped some pics and video and really love the results.
Last week I collaborated with local maker Kami Goertz, an incredible textile artist whose work is so unique and detailed. I took some time on a sunny afternoon, filmed her creative process and I’m really happy with how it turned out. Here are some screenshots from that shoot! I’ll post the completed piece once I finish the final edit.
I’ve been working with a local gallery, the Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art, documenting and recording their current show. The end result, a short document that will be used for online platforms and in a University setting to explore the themes and complexity of the installation.
We are in the final lap, video has been recorded and now we have to finish our audio on December 4th.
The process has been different to navigate with Covid-19. I’m so used to just jumping in, but this has required a whole new style of creative navigation. Here are some screenshots from the final cut. It’s just so nice to look at and gives me all the warm feelings of creative satisfaction.
More work based around mirroring and inverting images. This work represents a struggle with dissociation, and the push and pull of rural and cultural identity. All of these shots are stills from a longer video piece entitled “Hometown Fever Dream”
Excerpt from a longer piece that builds on the thematic play of dissociation, recovery and cultural identity.
*2 years ago I recorded the alarm system going off in a parkade. It was eerie, foreboding and I loved it. I held onto that sample and was FINALLY able to use it…so satisfying to rediscover audio and find a proper home for it*
Sometimes all it takes is seeing something from a different perspective to understand it’s creative potential. This was was so relaxing to film and cut together. The longer edit includes driving through residential streets and through our downtown area, once I finish it up I will post it.
Slow Sunday here today, spent some time reviewing and editing footage, creating short pieces that carry the hazy recollection of memories. The feeling when you try and recall a moment and all you can find are the shapes and sounds of where you used to be.
jamesdixon | film 