After its debut at Catalyst137 (137 Glasgow St, Kitchener, ON N2M 5E3), during the week of September 6 to 13:

September 15 to October 3 // Carl Zehr Square, Kitchener City Hall (200 King St W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7)

About the Artwork

Benoît Maubrey’s SPEAKERS ARENA is a modular sculpture that serves as a public participatory sound platform. Designed both to be sat on and used as a stage, it transforms public space into a communal sonic experience.

The sculpture is constructed from 400 connected loudspeakers, 4 input jacks, 3 Bluetooth receivers, 2 amplifiers, 1 microphone, and a mixing board. People can connect to and participate in-person or online through: https://speaker-arena.art.

SPEAKERS ARENA first came to CAFKA as ARENA during our 2018 biennial, “Recognize Everyone”. We’re excited to bring SPEAKERS ARENA back to town as a part of our 25th anniversary celebrations.

Programs and Performances

In Carl Zehr Square:

• September 15 - Happy Birthday CAFKA sing-a-long
• September 18 - Bird Daniels presents: Meagan Aversa, Portraitures, Eric Follino (folk rock)
• October 2 - Senseless Sensibilities (noise and ambient music)

About the Artist

Benoît Maubrey is a sound artist known internationally for his interactive sound sculptures and wearables. He is the director and founder of DIE AUDIO GRUPPE a Berlin-based art group that builds and performs with electronic clothes. He is also well known for his Audio Ballerinas – dancers who wear speaker tutus and make music based on their movements. Recycled and “found” electronics are his artistic medium. Since 1982, he has been conceiving and creating interactive sculptures in public spaces. In most cases, these sculptures interact with their environment: quite often they function as “Speakers Corner” where the public can express themselves “live”.