TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 9, 2013) -
Editors note: There is a photo associated with this press release.
Pattison Onestop and Labspace Studio present, Advice for the Living, a new project created by Toronto artists, John Loerchner and Laura Mendes, specifically for the network of Pattison Onestop's subway platform screens. The collection of new 30-second videos will play from July 15 to July 28, 2013.
Loerchner and Mendes, the dynamic team who created a buzz with last year's controversial initiative, Confessions Underground, have gathered a collection of 'advice clips' offered by senior citizens over the age of 70 and children under the age of seven, exploring the elusive and interrelated themes of wisdom, knowledge, and the search for happiness.
| "Lots of sex, lots of lovin', lots of hugs, lots of everything." (Age 91) |
| "Say nice words like… you can play with me." (Age 5) |
| "Learn to forgive your family… and love them deeply." (Age 85) |
| "Apologize if you do something wrong." (Age 7) |
The revealing, funny and heartfelt words of wisdom will appear as subtitled videos every 10 minutes on Pattison Onestop subway platform screens across the city, capturing the attention of more than one million daily Toronto subway commuters. Additionally, a selection of 'Advice' posters throughout the TTC subway system offer commuters brief expressions of wisdom.
"What makes Advice for the Living intriguing is that we're all searching for the key to happiness. There's a giant industry out there feeding us advice from 'happiness gurus' and leading professionals," comments Laura Mendes, Co-Director of Labspace Studio. "This project is about regular people offering advice to regular people waiting for the subway."
Advice was gathered from the 'portable advice stand' which was built by Loerchner and Mendes, and travelled with the artists to various Toronto senior citizen residences and children's classrooms. The pair also took their advice stand to street corners and public parks in Savannah, Georgia; and Ashville, North Carolina, as well as a senior citizen residence in Florida.
"We wanted to solicit unconventional wisdom on happiness from two very different demographics in society often ignored for their intellectual contributions," said John Loerchner, Co-Director of Labspace Studio. "What we hoped to discover was common ground between the seemingly naive thoughts of children and the age-old wisdom of seniors. And that's exactly what we discovered."
"I am so pleased to welcome back John and Laura with their new project for our screens," said Sharon Switzer, Pattison Onestop Arts Programmer and Curator. "I love the idea of turning over advertising space to a project that elevates the opinions of seniors and children, since these two 'demographics' are so undervalued in our society."
Loerchner and Mendes will be soliciting advice on the streets of Toronto with their portable stand until July 15, 2012. For more info visit - advicefortheliving.ca.
Advice for the Living is part of Art in Transit, Pattison Onestop's year-long arts and culture programme, presenting thought-provoking projects that enhance our shared environment and transport city-dwellers, if only momentarily, out of our daily routines. www.artintransit.ca.
About Labspace Studio/Co-Directors, John Loercher & Laura Mendes - Founded in 2007, Labspace Studio is a creative agency & art house led by artist-couple, John Loerchner & Laura Mendes. Their art projects range from curatorial exhibitions, multi-media performances, books, websites and interactive installations that often blur lines between art & everyday life. Their work has been featured in the Globe & Mail, National Post, Toronto Star, CBC News, Global News, CTV News, InnerSpace, CTS, ArtSync TV, and NBC News. www.labspacestudio.com
About Pattison Onestop - www.pattisononestop.com
Pattison Outdoor Advertising is Canada's largest Out-of-Home advertising company, serving over 100 markets coast-to-coast. Pattison Onestop, a division of Pattison Outdoor, is a world leader in the development and operation of Digital Out-of-Home Media (DOOH) for mass transit, mall, retail, hospitality, residential, office, and outdoor environments. Art in Transit represents Pattison Onestop's ongoing arts and culture programme.
To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130708-PATPHOTO08LRG.jpg.
Contact Information:
Marie Nazar
Arts Publicist
416.762.7702
mnazar@idirect.ca
