Unsettling Histories: Part II

Unsettling Histories responds to the historicization of contemporary art in Canada, through the particular site of White Water Gallery (on the occasion of its 40^th anniversary).  This is the second part of a three-part creation residency series critically reflecting on histories of this place, which will represent a settler view through the eyes of a tourist.

Rob Santaguida: November 8-22, 2017

Currently based in Berlin, Germany and having grown up in Montreal, Quebec, Rob Santaguida will return to North Bay with the memories and sensibility of a tourist.  Rob visited Nipissing region in an RV with his father when he was fifteen years old; upon his return, he will bring with him a collection of letters he received back then, from people who live in the city.

The return addresses on the letters from Rob’s pen pals will create an unexpected sojourn through North Bay, changing mundane homes into destinations with a memory. The letters will be used as mechanisms for an alternate reading of the city, leading to unique sites and relations, rather than postcard ready tourist traps.

Rob will produce an experimental documentary video installation with the collected material that create semi-autonomous viewing zones that throw the viewer into an attentiveness to his or her own perceptual engagement with the work.

Artist Biography

Since completing his studies in film production at Concordia University, Roberto Santaguida’s films have been shown at more than 250 international festivals around the world, including CPH: DOX, Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival (Denmark), Contemporary Art Festival Sesc_Videobrasil (Brazil), transmediale (Germany) and the Festival international du film Entrevues Belfort (France). He has taken part in artist residencies in numerous countries, including the United States, Romania, Germany, Norway and Australia. Roberto is the recipient of the K.M. Hunter Artist Award and a fellowship from Akademie Schloss Solitude in Germany.