ERANDY VERGARA VARGAS
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications, MacEwan University
Artistic Director, Printemps numérique
vergaravargase[at]macewan[dot]ca
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BIO
Erandy Vergara-Vargas (MX/CA) curates, teaches and writes on contemporary and media arts. She is Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications, MacEwan University. Her main research interests include global art histories, climate responsibility, curatorial studies, equity, internet cultures and widespread bias in algorithms. She earned a MA at Concordia University and a PhD in Art History at McGill University. Recent shows include ISEA2020: Why Sentience? (Mtl Connect, Montreal); Eva and Franco Mattes: What Has Been Seen (Fondation Phi pour l’art contemporain, November 2019-March 2020); Speculative Cultures: A Virtual Reality Art Exhibition, curated with Tina Sauerländer (Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Gallery, Parsons School of Design, New York, 2019). She recently joined the ISEA International Board as Chair.
CV
EDUCATION
2017 Ph.D. Art History. McGill University, Montréal QC
2008 MA, Department of Art History, Concordia University, Montréal QC
2002 B.A. Communication Studies. UAM. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico City
EMPLOYMENT
2022 Art History Coordinator and Assistant Professor, Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications, MacEwan University, Edmonton
2022 Postdoctoral Researcher, The Sociability of Sleep, Université de Montréal
2020- Artistic Director, Printemps Numérique (Montreal)
2019-2020 Programming Director and Artistic Chair, ISEA2020: Why Sentience? (organized by Printemps numérique, Montreal)
2017-2018 Artistic Director, Eastern Bloc (Montreal)
2015-2017 Programming Coordinator, Studio XX (Montreal)
2016 Artistic Director, The HTMlles Festival: Terms of Privacy (Montreal)
2015 Associate Director, Transitio Festival: Cambios compartidos (Mexico City)
TEACHING & RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2021 Lecturer, ARTH 202: Intro to Contemporary Art, Department of Art History & Communication Studies, McGill University
Lecturer, ARTH 301: Critical Viewing, Department of Critical Studies, University of British Columbia – Okanagan
Lecturer, ART 347 Modern Art; ART 471 Contemporary Art, Art Department, SUNY Plattsburgh
2015 Lecturer, Intro to Contemporary Art, Department of Art History & Communication Studies, McGill University
2013 Research assistant, Theatre & Performance in Central and South America Department of English, McGill University
2010 Co-lecturer, ARTH 336: Art Now, Department of Art History & Communication Studies, McGill University
2007 Research assistant, The History of Interdisciplinarity in the Visual Arts Department of Art History, Concordia University
2007 Teaching assistant, ARTH 354: Studies in Interdisciplinarity in the Visual Arts: The Gesamtkunstwerk, Department of Art History, Concordia University
2006 Research assistant, Canadian Women Artists: Historical Sources Database Department of Art History, Concordia University
PUBLICATIONS
Chapters in books:
“I Have Weight: Rejane Cantoni and Leonardo Crescenti’s Tunnel.” Moving Images, Mobile Bodies. The Poetics and Practice of (Techno-)Corporeality in Visual and Performing Arts, edited by Horea Avram, Cambridge Scholars Publishing (2018)
“Remixing the Plague of Images: Video Art from Latin America in a Transnational Context.” The Routledge Companion to Remix Studies, edited by Eduardo Navas, Owen Gallagher, and xtine burrough (2015)
“Notes: A Historical Review on Curatorial Practices in Mexico.” [Ready] Media: Towards an archeology of Media and Invention in Mexico. INBA/Laboratorio Arte Alameda, Mexico (2013)
“Fragments of a History of Technical Images.” Points, Pixels and Inches: Fragments of a Discourse of Digital Images in Mexico. Ed. Humberto Jardón. Mexico: Conaculta/Cenart (2012).
Articles:
“One Minute Meditation on My Privilege/Power Here and Now,” Fuck White Supremacy v. 02: The Happiness issue (2016)
“Proxemia: A Case Study on Moving and Being Stopped.” Acoustic Space No. 13 (Spring- Summer 2014) RIXC Center for New Media Culture, Latvia.
“Electronic Traces: Archaeological Perspectives of Media Art in Mexico” Archée: 13, UQAM (2013).
“Erick Meyenberg: Race Discourse in Present Continuous.” Archée: 13, UQAM (2013).
“Thirty Thousand Open Notebooks.” RE-D: Art, Visual Culture and Gender Journal N. 2, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Programa Universitario de Estudios de Género (2012)
“Mauricio Alejo: Between Still Image and Time-Image.” Luna Córnea: 33, Mexico: Conaculta/Centro de la Imagen (2012).
“Fragments of a History of Technical Images.” Luna Córnea: 33, Mexico: Conaculta/Centro de la Imagen (2012).
Guest editor:
In Circulation: Interdisciplinary Journal AHCS-McGill University, Issue 4: To Participate: Global & Spatial Perspectives, edited by Mark Clintberg and Erandy Vergara, December 2014, http://incirculation.ca
PEER-REVIEWED PRESENTATIONS
2022 “Internet Spaces in a Postdigital World,” ISEA2022 Barcelona, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, UOC (June 10-16)
2021 “Critical Proximity: Unpacking the Productivity of Disconnection and Fractures in Media Arts”, Uncommon Senses III Conferences, Concordia University, Montreal (May6-9)
2017 “Re-Tracing Methods: Rethinking Media Art Histories and Relations Between the North & the South,” Retrace: 7th International Conference on the Histories of Media Art, Science and Technology, Danube University, Krems, November 23-25
“Orientations : commissariat d’art et connaissances pour changer les discours,” 85 Congrès de L’Association francophone pour le savoir (l’Acfas); colloque 436 Transformer le silence en paroles et en actes, McGill University, May 7-11
2015 “43 Missing: The role of images, actions and interventions in public spaces to denounce the forced disappearance of 43 students in Mexico,” Canadian Studies Network, Annual conference, McGill University, October 2-3
2013 “Movement, Perception and Interaction: Kinetic Genealogies of Interactive Arts,” Renew: 5th International Conference on the Histories of Media Art, Science and Technology, RIXC and the Latvian Academy of Arts, Riga, October 8-11
“Movement and Interaction: Discussing the Latin American Orientations of Interactive Arts.” EAHR Annual Conference, Cultural Convergences I: Testify, Concordia University, September 5
2011 “Art and Technology in Latin America: A discussion on Subversive Cultures,” Universities Art Association of Canada Conference (UAAC), Carleton University, October 27-29
“Rethinking Interactivity in relation to the History of a Site,” Rewire: 4th International Conference on the Histories of Media Art, Science and Technology: FACT, Liverpool, UK, September 28-30
Other:
2015 Session Chair with Mark Clintberg: Site and Subject: Participation in Canada, UAAC, NSCAD
University, Halifax, November 5-7
CURATED EXHIBITIONS
2022 Curator, Pavitra Wickramasinghe – La mer / In a blue while, DRAC Gallery, Drummondville (July-August)
2021 Curator with Tina Sauerländer, Some Universe: Internet Spaces in a Postdigital World, Eastern Bloc, Sight + Sound Festival, Online (June-August)
2021 Curator, Online show: Critical Proximity: Something About Human Connections That Can Happen When There Is A Fissure, Oboro, http://criticalproximity.art/ (March-May)
2020 ISEA2020 Online and Onsite Programme (October 13-18 2020)
2019-2020 Curator, What Has Been Seen: Eva & Franco Mattes, Fondation Phi pour l’art contemporain, Montreal (November 2019-March 2020)
2019 Curator with Tina Sauerländer & Peggy Schoenegge, Speculative Cultures, Anna-Maria & Stephen Kellen Gallery, Parsons School of Design, New York (February-April)
2018-2019 Curator, Art & Artificial Intelligence: Artistic Explorations in Montreal, Printemps Numérique, Montreal (Spring 2019)
2018 Curator with Tina Sauerländer, Envisioning The Future: Virtual Reality Art Festival, Halcyon Arts Lab, Washington D.C. (October)
2014 Curator with Mark Clintberg, Contingent: Only if Participation Occurs, Studio XX, Montreal (December)
2013 Canada: Approaches to the (Inhabited) Landscape, FASE, Art and Technology Festival, Buenos Aires (November 8-11)
2012 Curator with Ariane De Blois, Instantes: Adad Hannah, Centro Nacional de las Artes, México City (June 7 – July 7)
2011 Curator with Ima Picó, Parallel Visions: Canada & Mexico, Manchester Digital Laboratory, Manchester, UK (September 2011)
2010 Curator with Ariane De Blois, Fake it! Studio XX, Montreal (December)
2011-2012 Curating Mexican Video Art: A Historical Survey, Laboratorio Arte Alameda, Mexico. December 2009. An exhibition presented as part of the project (Ready)Media: Towards an archeology of Media and Invention in Mexico, Mexico City (Oct. 30 – Jan. 22)
2007 Curator, Asfixia, Patrick Jolley & Reynold Reynolds, Center of Art & New Technologies, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
2006 Heart, Arte Electrónico, VIDI_FESTIVAL 06, La Sala Naranja Gallery, Valencia, Spain Curator with Susana Blas, Videomix: Dancing, La Casa Encendida, Madrid, Spain
2005 The Image Outside of Time, University of Victoria/Antimatter Underground Film Festival, Vancouver
2004 Curator with Hugo L. Barroso, Prêt-À-Porter, Galeria Arte Binaria, Centro Nacional de las Artes, Mexico City
Video-Zoom, Chroma Audiovisual Art Festival, Guadalajara, Mexico
On the purpose of death, 12 Festival Latioamericano de Video Rosario, Argentina | Centro Nacional de las Artes, Mexico City
Three Women, Nine Universes, ObservatorioXp Gallery, Morelia, Mexico
2003 He@rt, Arte Electrónico/ Arte, Soportes Alternos, Universidad Latina de América, Morelia, Mexico
GRANTS/FELLOWSHIPS/AWARDS
2019-2020 Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec, and Conseil des arts de Montréal (through Printemps Numèrique/ISEA2020)
2017-2018 Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec, and Conseil des arts de Montréal (through Eastern Bloc)
2013 Beaverbrook Graduate Award, Media@McGill Advanced Dissertation Award
Graduate Excellence Fellowship, Department of Art History and Communication Studies, McGill University
Beaverbrook/Media@McGill Graduate Travel Grant
2012 Faculty of Arts Dissertation Writing Workshop, McGill University
Independent Curators Award: Programme de subventions en arts visuels en métiers d’art et en architecture, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
McGill Arts Graduate Research Travel Award, November
2011 Award for Media Arts Organizations, Groups and Collectives, Canada Council for the Arts
McGill Arts Graduate Student Travel Award, September
McGill Arts Graduate Research Travel Award, April
Beaverbrook/Media@McGill Graduate Travel Grant
2010-2013 FQRSC, Doctoral Fellowship
2010-2012 SSHRC, Doctoral Fellowship
2008-2010 Abner Kingman Fellowships in Arts, McGill University
2008 RA and Arts Insight, McGill University
2007 Carolyn and Richard Renaud Teaching Assistantship, Concordia University
JUROR, GUEST CRITIC
2021 Juror: Claudine and Stephen Bronfman Fellowship In Contemporary Art 2021, Montreal
Juror: Visualizing Bias with Augmented Reality, Goethe-Institut, Gray Area, Fotomuseum
Winterthur, and Artivive
Guest critic: Atelier projet de création, Maîtrise en arts visuels et médiatiques de
l’EAVM/UQAM
2017-2020 Evaluation Committee: Conseil des arts de Montréal, Digital Art
2019 Juror: New Generation Photography Award, Scotiabank/National Gallery of Canada
2017 Guest critic: MFA Fibres and Material Practices Reviews, Concordia University, April
Guest critic: Design and Computation Arts Reviews, CART 412, Concordia University, February/April
2016 Guest critic: MFA Print Media Reviews, Concordia University, December
2015 Juror: Transitio International Award: Video and Media Art. Transitio Festival, Mexico City
2012 Guest Board Member “Cyberfest 2012,” Cybernetics Art Festival of St. Petersburg
2011 Juror: “Programmes de recherche-création du Rustines|Lab,” Perte de Signal
2006 Juror: “Convocatoria de Apoyo a Proyectos Artísticos y Culturales, Categoría: Arte Electrónico y Digital” Instituto Mexicano de la Juventud, Mexico
SYMPOSIUM & ROUND TABLES
2020 Panel: Womxn in Immersive Tech | Meetup #3, with Tamiko Thiel and Tosca Terán, Goethe Institut Montréal, November 20
2018 Panel: Inventing the Future, MUTEK, Phi Centre, Montreal, April 11
2017 Panel: Mexico City Imaginaries, MUTEK, Monument-National, Montreal, August 24
2016 Round table: Critical Approaches to Virtual Reality: A Conversation about the Present, Past and Future of VR, Milieux Institute for Arts, Culture and Technology, May 24
Round table: Ambivalent approaches in digital art, Papier Art fair, Arsenal art contemporain, Montreal, April 22
2013 Panel: Dissections: Cory Arcangel, DHC /Art Montreal, October 16
2009 Symposium: “Expanded Video. New boundaries in Mexico.” Centro Cultural España de México, January 27-28
2004 LatinoAmedia round table, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Rufino Tamayo, Mexico August 22
INVITED CONFERENCES & LECTURES
2022 “Quand « être-ensemble » est au centre et non aux marges de la pensée et de l’action,” Conférences ICI – UQAM, February 2
2021 “Curating Critical Proximity.” Guest lecture in Decoding Visual Art (CEGEP course led by Pohanna Pyne Feinberg) Dawson College, April 7
2020 “Curating What Has Been Seen: Eva & Franco Mattes.” Guest lecture in Modernism and the Visual Arts (CEGEP course led by Emma Doubt), Dawson College, February 27
2017 “Feminist Curating.” Guest lecture in ARTH 381 Feminism and Art History (undergraduate course led by Dr. Cynthia Hammond), Department of Art History, Concordia University, October 13
2016 “Interactive installations from Latin America.” Guest lecture in GSFS 400: Feminism, Embodiment and Difference (undergraduate course led by Dr. Mary Bunch), IGSF, McGill University, November 30
“Movement and Orientation: Four Interactive installations from Latin America.” Public lecture, Feminist Media Studio, Concordia University, March 16
2015 “Movement and Interactivity.” Guest lecture in ARTH 391: Art and Its Changing Contexts, (undergraduate course led by Dr. Mark Clintberg), Department of Art History, Concordia University, March 17
“Techno-Poetics: Art and Technology in Latin America.” Public lecture, Cyberfest: Cybernetics Art Festival, The Youth Educational Center of The State Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia
2014 “Notes on Curating Screen Cultures,” Guest lecture in ARTH 358: Studies in the History of Media Art/Screen Culture (undergraduate course led by Dr. Alice Ming Wai Jim) Department of Art History, Concordia University (February 25)
2011 “Techno-Poetics: Art and Technology in Latin America.” Public lecture, Journée d’étude Hétérogéneité et territoires de l’art latino-américain, UQAM
“Re-Calibrando: Artes electrónicas en México,” Public lecture, Centro de Exposiciones SUBTE, Montevideo, Uruguay, July 7
“Art and Technological Thinking.” Public lecture, Universidad Tres de Febrero (UNTREF), Buenos Aires, Argentina
2008 “The Illegal Other’s New Shoes: Judi Werthein’s Brinco.” Public lecture, Graduate Student Speaker Series, McGill University, November 27
2007 “Rafael Lozano Hemmer: Media Art & Interdisciplinarity,” Guest lecture in ARTH 354: Studies in Interdisciplinarity in the Visual Arts: The Gesamtkunstwerk” (undergraduate course led by Dr. Cynthia Hammond), Department of Art History, Concordia University, March 23
2002 “Arte Electrónico en México: heartelectronico.org.” Public lecture, IV Salon International de Arte Digital, La Habana, Cuba
“Heartelectronico,” Project presentation, Centro de la Imagen, Mexico City, August 2
WORKSHOP PARTICIPATION
2021 “Methods, Theories & Tools for Emerging Media Art Curators,” Oboro, Montreal, Jan. 15-Feb. 19
2018 “Methods, Theories & Tools for Emerging Curators,” Oboro, Montreal, Feb. 19–March 19
2005 “The History of Video Art.” Universidad del Centro de México, San Luís Potosí, Mexico, July 19-23
2003 The History of Video Art.” ObservatorioXp Gallery, Morelia, Mexico
LINKS:
https://art2020.isea-international.org/
https://fondation-phi.org/fr/exposition/eva-franco-mattes/
http://criticalvr.art
http://criticalproximity.art/