AUTOMATES

AUTOMATES performing ‘Massages By Strangers’ at DesignTO 2019!

In the wake of high-profile allegations, toxic workplaces, and powerful leaders who committed sexual harassment have been exposed. Interestingly, Harvey Weinstein’s female victims recounted a similar act before he escalated his behaviour: soliciting or giving a massage.

‘Massages By Strangers’ features a hybrid space consisting of guided massages by Maggie Van Luven, Sarah Olivia, Meg Armstrong and Brooke Hamilton and musical performances by Depression Era, Korea Town Acid, WeTurnToRed and Phèdre, and aims to reposition massage from negative connotations (eg. gateway to harassment, body-rub parlours) to its therapeutic roots. This environment actively engages multiple senses – touch, sight, hearing, and olfactory, which encouraging collective listening as boundaries surrounding issues of consent and respect are negotiated. Given seismic shifts in social attitudes around health, wellness, impropriety, and rights, ‘Massages By Strangers’ captures a newfound urgent mood.

Contact: automatesautomates@gmail.com

AUTOMATES and Depression Era team up to create a hybrid performance consisting of massage, music and video projections that repositions touch to its therapeutic roots.

In the wake of high-profile allegations (eg. watershed accusations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein) toxic workplaces and powerful leaders who committed grave acts of sexual harassment have been exposed. Weinstein’s female victims recounted a similar act before he escalated heinous behaviour: soliciting or giving a massage.

Massages By Strangers aims to reposition massage from its negative connotations (eg. gateway to physical harassment, body-rub parlours) to its therapeutic roots. The immersive environment actively engages multiple senses – touch, sight, hearing and olfactory, which encourages collective listening and progress while negotiating boundaries surrounding issues of consent and respect. Given recent seismic shifts in social attitudes around health, wellness, impropriety and rights, Massages captures an urgent mood.

Massages By Strangers will be at In The Soil Arts Festival 2018.

Performance Dates/Times:

Friday, April 27 @ 8pm-10pm

Saturday, April 28 @ 2:30pm-4:30pm & 10pm-12am

Sunday, April 29 @ 5pm-7pm

Ticket info here.

This project is generously supported by Suitcase In Point and the Ontario Arts Council.