originally published in “Uncle Weed’s Dossier in Vancouver Observer, Feb 2011 – link broken – retrieved from Wayback Machine
Dave Olson, Posted: Feb 27th, 2011
[note: photos retrieved from Wayback machine archive (thanks!) but rather small here, pardons, also photo credits at bottom]
My day was already a classic by the time I arrived at the erstwhile controversial theatre in the quickly familiar alcoves of Woodwards compound: Starting with street hockey in the rain with pick’em teams of Vancouver media-making renegades and various luminaries to raise food; then crashing the goal medal net like waterlogged beavers; then, finding stunning good tacos downtown (yes!). Finally, seated down front, I watched remixed nuggets from two years of my extra-circular activities flip by in the documentary, With Glowing Hearts.
Along with four other subjects, filmmakers Andrew Lavigne and Jon Ornoy performed documentary surveillance around activities culminating in that sporty whoop-de-do in February 2010.
With Glowing Hearts deserves a post of its own but it’s a bit odd for me to discuss as I get hung up my tickle-trunk worn of funny hats, omnipresent beer in hand, and Kris Krug’s various beards. While watching, I couldn’t help but recall the projects taking entire evenings presented in a fleeting frame, or tight spots mitigated, gracefully shoehorned in as a footnote. They were everywhere, it seemed. Scenes of weekends i’d forgotten one way or another.
For my part, I was a ringleader of the True North Media House which – as is made clear in the film – was a decentralized consortium of resources, collaborators and amplification – more media Merry Pranksters than protesters or promoters – hey, it’s DIY, make a badge, tell a story, spread it global.
Each action by each person catalyzed the idea into something which i’m truly glad is now shared.
Simply put: if you have any vague interest in social media, social justice, macro/micro-politics, urban transition, civil liberties and/or good times, then get your eyes on this doc.
Built to Share
The film ends with lil’ “final statements” from the main topics. At a post-Olympics social/media/etc panel (alas, I was in Toronto at the time), my pal KK says something like, “So, what do we do next? Where do we focus the energy and skills?”
Personally, what I want to know is: What people are making? What do they need? What inspires them? Who are the new heroes? What can be shared? And help people find collaborators.
I want to share knowledge across timezones and industries, and document the experiments and successes at this remarkable point in time.
Brand New Renaissance
Here in Vancouver, (maybe you’ve noticed) we live in the midst of social/web/tech companies which are creating truly unique and powerful (in a global scale) tools.
We are not only witnessing or tacitly observing, but instead co-creating and culturally-curating something unique. Van isn’t exclusive to this – across Canada are pockets in the throes of this social/new/digital media renaissance like we’re pre-wired for it.
Dare I say – our countryfolk tend to be nuanced communicators with an understanding of bringing people together in compelling, inclusive ways.
Within these various enclaves exists the power to create world-changing art and technology, then bask in the resultant cultural-economic goodness. Indeed, sustainable, intelligence-based commercial models exist, and are eager to multiply.
The Next Station is…
So how to be spark this intellectual and cultural exchange? Hop aboard the Festival Express Redux – an interdisciplinary, cross-Canada train trip exploring the intersection of art, music, culture, media, business.
In the spirit of the 1970 music tour, The Festival Express, which brought Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band and more by rail to the fans from coast to coast – with hi-jinks, legends and mishaps along the way.
This train will be loaded-up with media makers, entrepreneurs, musicians, teachers, journalists, photographers and technologists, commonly aimed at barnstorming into cities and towns for hours to days – explore and exchange.
It’s a natural course for our kind – we’re travelers and traders, diplomats and teachers. Folks hop on and folks jump off as we pick up thinkers, builders and leaders along the course and inspire the future.
Interdisciplinarianism FTW
In each town, the riders will participate in both pre-arranged and spontaneous series of lectures, meet-ups, workshops and projects (see: Geeks on a Plane). Collaborators might include colleges, NPOs, service clubs, chambers of commerce, “Bar” campers, community groups – whoever raises a hand and says, “Let’s brew something up.”
Topics could include media making, start-up life, creative commons, funding sources, inspiring creativity, photo walks, web tools, poetry and paint, and anything else which interests 2 people. Everything is on the record and documented in a firehose of mixed-media narrative and published in almost-real-time.
Collectively contextualized and shared and open to conversation like a new-school farmer’s almanac of best tips and timing – with an aim to stimulate cultural exchange and spark economic activities.
The results (at minimum) with share the inspiring vital signs of Canada in general – and the communities specifically – as fertile ground in digital media business-sphere.
Who’s on-board? I’ll raise my hand. Also, we’ll need a train, wi-fi, beer and sandwiches.
Photo Credits:
- Street hockey renegades: Jeremy Lim
- Dave and Andrew Lavinge at Waldorf Hotel: Kris Krug
- Further Bus: Marty Kendall (Eugene 1990) via Dave Olson
- Screencap from With Glowing Hearts TNMH webisode
- Writer with suitcase: Analoglisa
- Social media at Olympics camera: Evan Leeson
- Art-deco VIA train: Dave Olson
- Train in yard: Dave Olson
- Camera on train: John Biehler
