“There is so much power within each and every one of us. The power of breath, the power of movement, of stillness, of rest, of sound, of meditation, and magic. We hold all of this power in our bodies. ”

“cari ann shim sham* & joey zaza—co-founders of the Museum of Wild and Newfangled Art (mowna)—are among the first curators to be onboarded to objkt.one; a collection of curated 1/1 artworks by artists from across the globe on objkt.com.”

“The first mowna Biennial was a life-saver thrown overboard to drowning artists in the sea of the pandemic. The second mowna Biennial is a celebration of our survival and tenacity to continue onwards, says cari ann shim sham*, mowna co-founder and curator. ”

“The takeaway for the students is learning some sort of etiquette around technology and ethics of technology and discipline of use and addiction to the technology specifically the social media platforms that are addicting their users to sell advertising.””

“Curation is very subjective. It’s my hope through the development of an AI curator that we can allow for equity and diversity, and eliminate some biases,” says cari ann shim sham*.”

“The artificial intelligence model was trained on image sets from various sources, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the mowna Biennial submissions, an exhibit of around 88 International Artists from 44 countries.”

“It is important to build this machine now, before other big tech companies design algorithms that erase the artist and define AI curation.”

“ It’s my hope that it can allow for equity and diversity, and it can eliminate bias.”

“The AI machine will curate the show by looking at the text data of the submissions as well as the artwork files.”

“We are interested in creating a machine that can curate in a diverse and ethical way, that is not founded in white supremacy or structures of inherent racism. Much of the art world is affected and effected by both of these issues. So mowna asks, is it possible to create an AI that looks at the art and curates with diversity, equity and inclusion? It is important to build this machine now, before other big tech companies design algorithms that erase the artist and define AI curation.”

““Don’t stop” — For me, it has been my tenacity and my persistence that has led me this far. Had I stopped, given up, taken a break it would have never happened. that means living hand to mouth, that means struggle, and paycheck to paycheck and a lot of dark nights of the soul. it isn’t easy walking the path as an artist. but for me, there was no other choice. It’s the only way I know how to move.”

“A new post-digital artist platform launching a biennial..”

“But in a time full of darkness, there is a beacon of light for both art lovers and artists as The Museum of Wild and Newfangled Art (mowna) announces their new online Biennial, a museum born out of the pandemic and specifically designed for the digital age.”

“We have a unique, one-of-a-kind collection of curated art, all in one place, without ads or distractions, without cookie agreements or pop ups, without login requirements and data mining…we want our visitors to enjoy the art without manipulation,” says cari ann shim sham*,”

“There’s nowhere else that you can see this collection of art, in this way. There are hours of artwork to explore, play with, and listen to, twenty-four hours a day. It is an intimate experience, that you can have alone or with someone, with no crowds to navigate, no distractions, nothing in the way of you and the art,” says wild artist cari ann shim sham* who co-founded the museum along with artist Joey Zaza. “As large institutions cancel shows, the art that is being made now potentially will not be seen and might be lost, or perhaps considered irrelevant by a show that is scheduled as far off as 2022. We decided to throw our own Biennial and support artists now,” says Zaza.”

“Now more than ever, artists need financial relief as well as an accessible place to showcase their art” says artist cari ann shim sham*, who co-founded mowna along with artist Joey Zaza. “As large institutions cancel or postpone shows, the art that is being made currently will not be seen, might be lost, or perhaps considered irrelevant by a show that is scheduled as far off as 2022” says Zaza. mowna helps solve this crisis through a humane, user-friendly platform that supports a diverse range of art and artists right now with 70% of ticket sales going to the artists.”

“The dancers are also always working in tandem. Fighting for women’s rights to their own bodies and movements is a group task, every woman supporting every other. Similarly the show was produced and performed entirely by women. Beattie dances with her light designer and performance collaborator Cari Ann Shim Sham and dancer Jennifer Roberts. Architect Mary Hale designed the dome and the piece was stage-managed by Lyanne Low.”

“See | Be Seen is a mysterious dance trio that conjures female empowerment in shadow and brilliant light.”

“It is good medicine my friend, so take a hearty dose.”

“Let me explain Cari Ann’s self-description. She is a director, photographer, dancer, choreography – a wide array of talents she brings to bear in all of her projects. She got tired of listing them all, so just calls herself a “wild artist.””

“The event will also include the first fully-staged live performance of The Parksville Murders- The world’s first virtual reality opera...directed by Cari Ann Shim Sham* won Best VR Video at the NYC Indie Film Festival in 2017 and premiered online as featured content on SamsungVR. The piece is currently being featured on InceptionVR and JauntVR- two major VR distribution platforms. ”

“It’s a real historical moment,” says Shim Sham. “Let the world have it and start healing because we need to talk about these things. This country needs to heal, and this is a step in that direction. [We need] to really talk about disparities between the blacks and whites and between everyone in this country and what we’re up against right now. We need to begin to be truthful about his situation.”

“Hinging on the music of Duke Ellington collaborator and civil rights activist Billy “Sweat Pea” Strayhorn, Rousseve’s nine-dancer troupe interprets Strayhorn’s music, pairing movement with period recordings, a contemporary score and a video backdrop designed by Cari Ann Shim Sham.”

“The bare facts of the artist’s life are projected on a screen, with the music and movement — Roussève calls the dance style “Judson Church meets swing” — providing the resonance and meaning.”

“Further fueling high expectations is the involvement of Stardust collaborator video artist Cari Ann Shim Sham and a soundscore developed by d. Sabela grimes drawn from vintage recordings of Strayhorn’s songs.”

“Roussève mixes his company’s expressive movement style with Cari Ann Shim Sham*’s bold video art and d. Sabela grimes’ jazz-infused sound design to explore the lesser-known aspects of arranger and activist Billy Strayhorn’s life.”

“...video art by Cari Ann Shim Sham* gives the production a rich visual dynamic...This is Roussève’s third project with Cari Ann Shim Sham* (video), Chris Kuhl (lighting), and Leah Piehl (costumes); and his second with L. MSP Burns (dramaturgy), and d. Sabela grimes (sound design). ”

“Samsung VR Staff Picks for 2017 goes to Parksville Murders!”

“We have an inflatable dome that we’re using that has projected video imagery on it,” says Cari Ann Shim Sham*, Director of The Parksville Murders. “Inside the dome, the first thing you see is the monumental tub that is in the opera. There are also Watchers in the dome, “dead bodies” in the dome and lots of blood.”

“Says Shim Sham* of the project: “We want to involve the audience, give them a role, allow them to make choices, and to be implicated in the scene, perhaps as a killer or as a witness, which serves as a greater metaphor for what is in our future of VR: being “watchers” of a new and addictive form of immersive media.””

“The Parksville Murders ” will be featured at the Future of StoryTelling conference in NYC from Oct. 6-8, following a series of viewings and installations at the Salem Horror Fest earlier this month. The piece, directed by Shim Sham and featuring music by Sankaram and libretto by Jerre Dye, will be produced by Shim Sham, Opera On Tap’s Anne Hiatt, and former Blue Man Group creative director Todd Perlmutter with VR production by Light Sail VR. ”

“Opera on Tap’s The Parksville Murders sounds like a true monster mash-up of genres and technology. Episode one debuts Friday, October 20, on the Samsung VR app on Gear VR with Controller and at samsungvr.com. ”

“The Parksville Murders, Opera on Tap’s episodic Virtual Reality Opera Horror directed by Cari Ann Shim Sham* won Best Virtual Reality Film at the NYC Indie Film Festival ”

“The engrossing video is the world’s first episodic horror opera crafted specifically for virtual reality and immerses the viewer into the front-row seat of a thrilling and cryptic virtual universe. Two young women wake up confused and terrified in a dark, music-filled world of incongruities and evil intentions, while strange “watchers” lurk in the shadows and slowly gather around the duo, ceremoniously awaiting their fate. One woman fights her way out, only to find that ‘out’ may be yet another illusion in this horrific, virtual atmosphere.”

“Virtually Operatic
”The more I learned about VR the more I felt like it was an ideal place to present opera.” ~Anne Hiatt
”

“Experience The Parksville Murders, the world’s first episodic horror opera written specifically for virtual reality at the NYC Independent Film Festival! In Episode 1, two young women (Sarah and Corrine) wake up confused and terrified in a dark, surreal, music-filled world of incongruities and evil intentions, where strange watchers lurk in the shadows. Will they make it out alive?”

“A virtual-reality opera titled ‘The Parksville Murders’ is being presented in Dumbo’s Archway under the Manhattan Bridge.”

“directed by Cari Ann Shim Sham*, The Parksville Murders is a horror opera, created specifically for a virtual reality experience. How cool is that? Audiences can tune in with their VR technology of choice (more on that below), to get both an entirely new operatic experience, while being completely creeped out.”

“Says Shim Sham* (Director) of the project: “We want to involve the audience, give them a role, allow them to make choices, and to be implicated in the scene, perhaps as a killer or as a witness, which serves as a greater metaphor for what is in our future of VR: being “watchers” of a new and addictive form of immersive media.”

“Opera on Tap is proud to announce its most innovative project yet: an episodic horror opera created for virtual reality entitled The Parksville Murders.”

“ sand dancing is more about sweeping, rubbing motions; the feet tend to spend more time on the floor. “Shuffles, flaps, slides, chugs and pull-backs work really well with sand,” adds L.A. tapper Kenji Igus, who was featured in Cari Ann Shim Sham*’s 2011 documentary SAND.”

“Video artist Cari Ann Shim Sham* projects digital tableaus onto multiple surfaces overlapped by the dancer’s athletic shadows, placing technical rigor into a pixelated world.”

“For TROPHY the audience was positioned on one side with three video projectors grouped together downstage center in close proximity with the audience. Each projector was focused on one of the three blank walls. Blank yes, but soon to come alive with the extraordinary Video Art by Cari Ann Shim Sham*. ”

“In honor of our new NACHMO Film Project, we have an interview with the fabulous Cari Ann Shim Sham. ”