York University
Toronto ON Canada
Event Image: “Landed” by Skawennati. 2016. Machinimagraph.
Skawennati and Jason Edward Lewis write, make art, invent technologies, and run workshops that teach Indigenous youth how to make video games and machinima (among other things). Their individual and collaborative works have been distributed and celebrated online, in gallery exhibitions, and at media and Indigenous arts festivals across Canada and internationally. Critical to their creative practice is the idea that their work in the virtual world helps to enact positive change in the real world.
In addition to their creative practice, Jason and Skawennati are co-directors of Aboriginal Territories in Cyberspace (AbTeC). AbTeC is an Aboriginally determined research-creation network of artists, academics, and technologists that seek to ensure Indigenous presence in online platforms and environments, video games, and virtual worlds that comprise cyberspace. AbTeC projects include Skins Workshops on Aboriginal Storytelling and Video Game Design, and the Initiative for Indigenous Futures. What futures we do we want to imagine, and then create, for our Aboriginal communities?
This artist talk is free and open to the public – but we need you to let us know you’re coming! There will be a reception in the CIBC Lobby following the talk.
This keynote event is made possible by the Digitally Engaged Learning Conference (DEL 2018), hosted at York University for the first time in Canada. We also wish to acknowledge the generous support of the Dean’s Office in the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, the Department of Design, and the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Download the event poster: Artist Talk Skawennati Jason Edward Lewis
