{"id":2358,"date":"2013-06-07T05:08:32","date_gmt":"2013-06-07T10:08:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/?p=2358"},"modified":"2016-08-20T07:59:35","modified_gmt":"2016-08-20T12:59:35","slug":"10th-infringement-festival-is-here-and-otl-is-offering-4-shows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/10th-infringement-festival-is-here-and-otl-is-offering-4-shows\/","title":{"rendered":"10th infringement festival is here and OTL is offering 4 shows!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When Montreal artists protested the trademarking of the word \u201cFringe\u201d in 2004 with a cheeky-sounding \u201cinfringement festival\u201d, they never expected their activist gesture would blossom into the international movement of rabble-rousing festivals it has become today.<\/p>\n<p>Rejecting corporate models that co-opt culture to reduce artists to advertising and spectators to consumers, the infringement festival promotes the arts as a tool for creative activism and community-building. Based on the original Edinburgh Fringe of 1947, which was an activist protest against exclusion and elitism, this year infringement festivals are being held in Brooklyn, Buffalo, Hamilton, Montreal, and Ipswich in the U.K.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/CompressedIF2013Poster-small1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2395\" style=\"width: 277px;height: 320px\" src=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/CompressedIF2013Poster-small1-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"CompressedIF2013Poster-small\" width=\"242\" height=\"299\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>For its 10<sup>th<\/sup> edition, the Montreal infringement festival is very pleased to welcome over 50 local and international acts of various genres. Montreal audiences will be treated to controversial, experimental, and activist events and performances, including <a href=\"http:\/\/www.infringemontreal.org\/theatre.html\" target=\"_blank\">shows<\/a> like <i>420: The Musical<\/i> (Francis Bacon Experiment, Buffalo, NY), <i>Mentalist Lucas Simmons<\/i> (Atlantic City, NJ), <i>Candyass Cabaret<\/i>, Louis Royer and <i>Le Grand R\u00e9cital Fractal<\/i>, <i>Spoken Mirrors Show<\/i>, <i>Dumpster Dive Art Drive<\/i>, <i>Infringement Walking Tour<\/i>, and many other events of all creative types. The festival runs in Montreal from June 13 \u2013 23 at over 10 locations throughout the city. Full details, including the schedule and descriptions of all the acts for 2013, can be found at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.infringemontreal.org\">www.infringemontreal.org<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Optative Theatrical Laboratories, the original instigators of the infringement festival, is pleased to announce four outdoor shows for the 2013 Montreal edition! This year, OTL is bringing the theatre into the streets with four distinct performances:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Red Light District Walking Tour<\/strong> (Saturday, June 15, 4 pm)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Infringement Therapy! <\/strong>(Sunday, June 16, 7 pm)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Haunted Mountain<\/strong> (Monday June 17, 8 pm)<\/p>\n<p><b>The Infringement Walking Tour<\/b> (Wednesday, June 19, 7 pm)<\/p>\n<p>So, get your agenda out and support the independent arts by slotting in some performances at the infringement festival, from OTL or one of the many other acts gracing our city during these exciting times!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Saturday, June 15, 4 pm<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Red Light District Walking Tour. <\/b>After hailing victory in the battle for Cafe Cleopatre, burlesque queen Velma Candyass and cultural worker Donovan King have been busy trying to put Montreal\u2019s Red Light District firmly back on the map, as developers simultaneously try to erase it!<\/p>\n<p>After much research and preparation, the dramatic duo is pleased to offer a salacious walking tour of Montreal\u2019s storied Red Light District. From the days of New France through the Victorian era to Prohibition and right up the 21st Century, the tour looks at all the unsuccessful attempts by various authorities over the centuries to control, destroy, or re-brand the area. Included is the most recent controversy, the demolition of the Lower Main National Historic Site, and the dramatic funeral that was staged by activists to mark its passing.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Father-Anthony-and-Velma-Candyass.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2337\" src=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Father-Anthony-and-Velma-Candyass-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"Father Anthony and Velma Candyass\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Father-Anthony-and-Velma-Candyass-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Father-Anthony-and-Velma-Candyass.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>photo by S. E. Amasse<\/p>\n<p>As a cultural war unfolds in The Main National Historic Site between artists and developers, King and Candyass are working on behalf of the living culture, history, and heritage of the remarkable neighbourhood! Velma has done some serious burlesque revival with the monthly Candyass Cabaret (June 21<sup>st<\/sup> at the infringement festival!), whereas King keeps up the pressure on politicians and developers to ensure the destruction stops and they begin respecting the National Historic Site.<\/p>\n<p>The tour starts at the Midway Bar &amp; Salon, 1219 boulevard Saint-Laurent.<\/p>\n<p>Saturday, June 15, 2013, 4 pm<\/p>\n<p>$10<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Sunday, June 16, 7 pm<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b>Infringement Therapy! <\/b>Individual, couple, and group \u201cclients\u201d are given appointments for infringement therapy: after being diagnosed by a theatrical Doctor, they are prescribed an interactive, dramatic and therapeutic journey.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/infringement-therapy-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1867\" src=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/infringement-therapy-2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"infringement therapy (2)\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/infringement-therapy-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/infringement-therapy-2.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The goal of infringement therapy is to purge the \u201cclients\u201d of their deepest, darkest oppressions, and empower them to transform their daily social reality!<\/p>\n<p>Bifteck, 3702 St. Laurent<\/p>\n<p>Sunday, June 16, 7 pm<\/p>\n<p>pay-what-you-can<\/p>\n<p><strong>Recent Media:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Montreal Gazette. <strong><a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/blogs.montrealgazette.com\/2013\/06\/09\/the-qdf-teams-up-with-the-fringe-mac-n-cheese-live-tweet-replay\/\" target=\"_blank\">Stage and Page Blog: QDF Summer Theatre Launch<\/a><\/strong>. Pat Donnelly. June 9, 2013.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Another unscripted moment occurred when two representatives of the <strong>Infringement Festival<\/strong>, <strong>Donovan King<\/strong> and <strong>Karen Spilak<\/strong>, delivered an interesting historical polemic about the trademarking of the word \u201cfringe\u201d by Canadian fringe festivals. Then they criticized the <strong>Montreal Fringe<\/strong> for launching a <strong>Kid\u2019s Fringe<\/strong> because the event sponsor is a beer company and held up a sign saying \u201cBoycott St. Ambroise\u201d. All this used up their allotted time so we didn\u2019t learn much about the 50 shows of this year\u2019s <strong>Infringement Festival<\/strong>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>She Does The City. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.shedoesthecity.com\/our-top-janes-walk-picks-for-toronto-montreal-and-vancouver\" target=\"_blank\">Our Top Jane\u2019s Walk Picks for Toronto, \u00a0Montreal and Vancouver<\/a>. May 2, 2013.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Local writer Marianne Ackerman describes it as \u201canglo Montreal\u2019s longest running cultural feud.\u201d When a bunch of artists were kicked out of the Fringe Festival ten years ago, they started the now-international infringement movement. This walk will feature experimental street theatre in bars, alleyways, theatres and parks around the Plateau. <em>Starting point: Bar Bifteck, 3702 St-Laurent Ending Point: Barfly, 3702 St-Laurent <\/em>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Monday June 17, 8 pm<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Haunted Mountain<\/strong> is a <a href=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/october-28-haunted-mountain-a-halloween-walking-tour-up-mount-royal\/\" target=\"_blank\">popular\u00a0spooky walking tour<\/a> up the slopes of Mount Royal that is being offered on Monday, June 17, at 8 pm. Hosted by horror-experts Donovan King and Karen Spilak, the tour begins on the Plateau at the rumoured-to-be-haunted Barfly.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Haunted-Mountain-2012-Gazette.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2362\" src=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Haunted-Mountain-2012-Gazette-300x193.jpg\" alt=\"Haunted Mountain 2012 Gazette\" width=\"300\" height=\"193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Haunted-Mountain-2012-Gazette-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Haunted-Mountain-2012-Gazette.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The mountain ramble will visit several haunted sites and guests will be regaled with ghost stories, mysteries and legends about Mount Royal. From haunted hospitals and abandoned castles to cemeteries teeming with undead spirits and a tobogganing ghost, visitors will hear all about the paranormal activities on the slopes.<\/p>\n<p>Barfly, 4062 St. Laurent Blvd.<\/p>\n<p>Monday, June 17, at 8 pm<\/p>\n<p>$10<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Wednesday, June 19, 7 pm<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Infringement Festival\u00a0Walking Tour<\/strong> delves into what local writer Marianne Ackerman describes as \u201canglo Montreal\u2019s longest-running cultural feud\u201d. The infringement festival, now in its 10th edition, was born when artists in a show called Car Stories were kicked out of the now-trademarked St. Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival.<\/p>\n<p>Learn about the birth and philosophy of the now-global infringement movement, experience controversial street theatre, and explore legendary bars, parks, theatres and alleyways in and around The Main.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/shoes.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2360\" src=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/shoes.jpg\" alt=\"shoes\" width=\"250\" height=\"155\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Delve into the philosophical \u201cFringe\u2122 vs. infringement\u201d dilemma, and hear about how it exploded on the scene at the first-ever <a href=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/world-fringe-congress-to-welcome-infringement-festival\/\" target=\"_blank\">World Fringe Congress<\/a> in Edinburgh, Scotland, last summer.<\/p>\n<p>Hosted by Donovan King and Karen Spilak, the tour also includes special animation by the talented artists of the infringement festival!<\/p>\n<p>The tour starts at Bar Bifteck (3702 Saint. Laurent)<\/p>\n<p>June 19, 7 pm<\/p>\n<p>Pay-what-you-can<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>***<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Click <a href=\"http:\/\/infringementfestival.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a> for\u00a0information on the other infringement festivals, and please\u00a0read the latest Summer Theatre recommendations from the <a href=\"http:\/\/mobile.nytimes.com\/2013\/05\/19\/theater\/summer-2013-theater-listings.html?from=theater\" target=\"_blank\">New York Times<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p><strong>BUFFALO INFRINGEMENT FESTIVAL<\/strong> July 25-Aug. 4. Time was when a fringe festival was sufficiently subversive, but today <a href=\"http:\/\/theater.nytimes.com\/2012\/08\/27\/theater\/world-fringe-congress-in-edinburgh.html?_r=0\">even fringes generate fringe elements<\/a>. The Buffalo fest, an annual grass-roots project with a range of performance and other types of art, is part of a small but driven international movement with a mandate. It reads, in part, \u201cCelebrating freedom of expression and designed as a real arts democracy, this festival is a critical response to the oppressive neoliberal worldview and all its billboard trucks, televisions, fliers, advertisements, jingles, made-for-TV wars; and the depoliticization of people through this diversionary spectacle.\u201d\u00a0 (Translation: Fringe festivals have become slaves to corporate interests.) Buffalo is but one of several cities where infringement festivals have been organized in recent years. <a href=\"http:\/\/infringebuffalo.org\/\">infringebuffalo.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/infringement-general-logo.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/infringement-general-logo-300x153.jpg\" alt=\"infringement general logo\" width=\"300\" height=\"153\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Montreal artists protested the trademarking of the word \u201cFringe\u201d in 2004 with a cheeky-sounding \u201cinfringement festival\u201d, they never expected their activist gesture would blossom into the international movement of rabble-rousing festivals it has become today. Rejecting corporate models that co-opt culture to reduce artists to advertising and spectators to consumers, the infringement festival promotes [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[7,36,118,1],"tags":[355,381,84,531,432,394,533,534,11,532,240,119,345],"class_list":["post-2358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-activism","category-community-issues","category-performance","category-uncategorized","tag-donovan-king","tag-haunted-mountain","tag-infringement-festival","tag-infringement-festival-walking-tour","tag-infringement-therapy","tag-karen-spilak","tag-le-grand-recital-fractal","tag-louis-royer","tag-montreal","tag-red-light-district-walking-tour","tag-st-ambroise-montreal-fringe-festival","tag-street-theatre","tag-velma-candyass"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2358","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2358"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2358\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2835,"href":"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2358\/revisions\/2835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2358"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/optative.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}