New Adventures in Sound Art (NAISA) is a non-profit organization, formerly based in Toronto but now in South River ON, that presents performances and installations spanning the entire spectrum of electroacoustic and experimental sound art. NAISA operates the NAISA North Media Arts Centre, located in the centre of the village of South River at 106 Ottawa Ave., a short distance from Algonquin Park, at the building formerly known as Renée’s Café and Bean There Café.
The NAISA North Media Arts Centre includes a large exhibition/performance space, a small café, and an artist residency space suitable for media art production/creation as well as visual art creation. The café offers fresh baked goodies by local baker Lois McLaren, homemade soup by Nadene Thériault-Copeland and serves Muskoka coffee by Muskoka Roastery Coffee Company.
NAISA’s annual events include: the Deep Wireless festival of Radio & Transmission Art from January 17 to mid-April, the Sound Travels festival of Sound Art from June to Labour Day, and the SOUNDplay festival from late-September to late-November.
The objectives of NAISA are to foster awareness and understanding locally, as well as nationally and internationally, in the cultural vitality of experimental sound art in its myriad forms of expression. This objective is achieved through the exploration of new sound technologies in conjunction with the creation of cultural events and artifacts.
Upcoming Events
April 4 to June 17, 2019, Open 8 am to 4 pm everyday except Tuesdays and Wednesdays
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 106 Ottawa Ave, South River
Explore a wide variety of soundscapes through two interactive media artworks on exhibit at NAISA. Listen(n) is a virtual reality nature experience that provides full 360 spherical images and ambisonic sounds of protected ecosystems in Arizona, California, Mexico and Germany. The radio aporee Geomixer uses an online map to mix soundscape recordings captured globally by hundreds of volunteers and professionals.
NAISA would love to populate the radio aporee sound map with as many spring soundscapes of the Almaguin Highlands as possible. Want to add sounds from your own backyard to the radio apogee map? Click here to learn about an upcoming workshop at NAISA to get you started.
May 3 - 5, 2019
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 106 Ottawa Ave, South River & Warbler's Roost, 3785D Eagle Lake Road, South River
$100 (or $200 with 2 nights accommodation and breakfast at Warbler's Roost)
After the stillness of winter, springtime in the Almaguin Highlands awakens the ears to a suddenly active soundscape of birds, frogs and the drumming of the ruffed grouse. The first weekend of May at Warbler's Roost (22 KM west of South River) provides an exciting opportunity for nature-lovers, soundscape recordists and birders to enjoy the acoustic wonders of the spring season while learning about the art of soundscape recording.
Advance Registration Required: https://naisa.ca/education/register/
By Andra McCartney
May 3, 2019, 7:00 pm
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 106 Ottawa Ave, South River
General $10, Advanced Tickets.
A soundscape concert with two works by Andra McCartney that were both created from radio and soundscape recordings made during cross-Canada train trips fifteen years apart. The more recent trip passed through the wild fires in British Columbia last year and from that experience McCartney invites listeners to reflect on the impact of climate change.
Free Admission for Sound Camp Soundscape Workshop participants.
Photo Credit: Todd Parkington
Deadline: June 24, 2019
Launching January 17, 2019
NAISA Soundcloud Page