Events

Haptic Voices is a large scale ten channel vibrotactile wall with the potential for 10 independent streams of sound signals. Visitors are invited to stand against the wall to experience vibrations that are controlled using an iPad.

Six sound compositions, designed explicitly for the vibrotactile experience, were commissioned for the wall. The composers include Toronto-based John Gzowski and Ravi Naimpally, Hamilton composer Edgardo Moreno, Deaf Irish composer Ailís Ní Ríain, Haptic Voices creator Jim Ruxton and VibraFusionLab Director David Bobier.

Using vibration as the final output, Haptic Voices is equally accessible to the Deaf, hard of hearing and able-bodied communities to experience the wall. A couple of new works by Bobier and Ruxton will be presented in addition to the Haptic Voices installation.

David Bobier is a disabled artist whose creative practice is exploring vibrotactile technology as a creative medium. This work led to his establishment in 2012 of VibraFusionLab, a creative multi-media, multi-sensory centre that has a reputation as a leader in accessibility for the Deaf and disability arts movement in Canada and internationally. As a practicing artist his exhibition career includes 18 solo and over 30 group exhibition projects across Canada and internationally. David Bobier has served in advisory roles in developing Deaf and disability arts Equity programs for both Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council and a presenter at the Global Disability Summit in London, UK. He has recently been nominated by the Canada Council for a Governor Generals Innovation Award.

Jim Ruxton has a Masters in Electrical Engineering from the University of Ottawa and is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design . He works as an artist and engineer in installation, performance, theatre, dance and film collaborating with many other artists throughout his career. Jim is a founder and former Director of Programs for Subtle Technologies, a Toronto based organization that has created links between artists and scientists . Jim is a member of the Hamilton based VibraFusionLab collective, an organization that works to foster media arts within the Deaf and disabled arts community.

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