EVERYDAY GOALIE AT THE VENICE BIENNALE
The Everyday Goalie is a project by visual artist Chris Lloyd.
Since 2001 I have been writing almost-daily email to the Prime Minister of Canada. My interest in the PM, and Canadian politics and Canadiana in general, has led me on an elusive search of a quintessential Canadian Identity. This research has naturally focused on hockey. Hockey is an everyday sight within the urban Canadian environment: kids play in alleys, parks, rinks and parking lots while sports bars play NHL highlight clips non-stop.
I am curious about the colliding the image of the hockey player amongst the Canadian landscape, and in particular the goalie. Especially if that goalie seems all alone. Where is the rest of his team? And who is attempting to score on him? And what is he defending? In Canada, We stand on guard for thee. With The Everyday Goalie, I perform in the guise of this iconic figure, complete with Ken Dryden-style mask, standing guard. What I am guarding? It is never quite clear. The Canadian landscape? Canadian landmarks? Canadian history? Failure, futility, and a good dose of humour permeates these performances.
With the Everyday Goalie project I question assumptions surrounding our collective identity by examining a winter sport that is often referred to as Canada's National Obsession. The performances and subsequent videos are episodic yet also rooted in place: our collective sense of place, our sense of identity as projected through the cliché of a vaste landscape, and in particular how we as a nation of people are lulled into a false sense of unification, togetherness and national pride through sport.
Canada has participated in the Venice Biennale since 1952, and artists representing Canada began to show their work in the permanent Canada Pavilion in 1958, when it was inaugurated for the 29th Biennale. Echoing the spiral of a nautilus shell, the glass and wood pavilion was designed by the Milanese architecture firm BBPR and built under the auspices of the National Gallery of Canada with support from the Government of Canada.
What We Need & What You Get
The funds are needed to assist with travel, accommodations, shipping and storage of goalie gear, rental of a decent HD camera, lenses, lighting equipment and digital storage devices, and insurance. Any donation is most welcome and appreciated. I am also considering live-streaming the performance via ustream, follow me there for updates: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/everyday-goalie
The Impact
Given the current political climate in Canada, the Everyday Goalie is needed more than ever to Stand on Guard for the things that make Canada what it is (social safety net, health insurance, the arts, the CBC, etc). Simply visiting the Venice Biennale is an important destination for any artist; performing there, however illicitly, can be a major milestone event.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you can't help financially, please consider sharing the links to the Facebook event, Tweet about it (hashtag is #everydaygoalie), email your friends, and use the Indiegogo share tools.
***UPDATE***
Five days left and the project is soooooo close to meeting the goal! Only $350 to go! Hockey cards in full production! Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed or helped share the project!
Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
The Everyday Goalie (Chris Lloyd)
