By: Alana Roscoe
If you were to take visual art and competitive sport and mix it together, you might get something like Art Battle. Local artists squared off against each other on Nov. 4 at Arts Court for this fast-paced live painting event that elicits audience participation to determine the best creations.
Dozens of such battles have been held nationwide since 2010, and its 73rd iteration was held in Ottawa, which is starting to establish itself as a regular host.
Based on the claim that “not all art created is equal,” Art Battle is described as “democracy in Art” on its website. The format is simple: 12 painters are split between two 20 minute rounds, during which they create their best works possible as the audience watches. The two winners from each round, as determined by audience votes, face off for a final round. The night’s champion emerges with bragging rights and a $100 cash prize.
According to artist Chris Pemberton, who co-created the Art Battle concept with digital strategist Simon Plashkes, this experience is about building community, sharing creative processes in action, and promoting art and artists in Canada.
“Canadians,” stressed Pemberton, “need to continue to feed the art culture and to make art, because if we don’t make art, we won’t have any.”
Within the constraints of their time limits, canvas size, and acrylic medium, artists were otherwise free to create pieces in diverse colours and styles. As the venue provided a cash bar and upbeat music, the approximately 120 audience members slowly circled the painters as they worked on their pieces.
It is this combined presence of the art creator, consumer, and process itself that makes these battles so unique as artistic experiences. In the audience was the director of communications for the Arts Ottawa East (AOE) Arts Council, Cristiane Doherty, who observed, “it’s really a good opportunity for art to meet the audience and the audience to meet the art.”
Many of the artists themselves see this aspect as one of the highlights of their participation. Hamid Ayoub, whose textured landscape won him a spot in the final round, sees the sharing of the moment of creation as very important for him. The audience, he said, is “there to witness the creative process, the way you think, the way you approach your brushes, your colours while you are doing it.”
Margo Bennetto, who also made it to the final round thanks to her mottled abstract in primary colours, noted that the audience is able to not only see the creation of art pieces, but also to interact with it. She said that the people around her while she paints help make the art what it is, explaining, “the energy from the audience and music coming all together, it just explodes on the canvas.”
At the very least, noted Doherty, whether they’re experienced or amateur art connoisseurs, audience members can explore and discuss elements they like and dislike in what’s being created in front of them.
“They’re drawn into it,” she said, “I think that’s really what art’s about: getting a reaction when engaging somebody, the viewer.”
Ultimately, it was a couple of colourful yet somber portraits by Jordan Meekis that led the audience to vote him the night’s winner, but all artists have the chance to sell their night’s creations via silent auction. Pemberton said he hears positive feedback and enthusiasm for repeated participation from virtually all of the artists, whether they win or lose.
Art Battle takes place several times monthly across Canada and will return to Ottawa on a regular basis.
This article first appeared in the Leveller Vol. 6, No. 3 (Nov/Dec 2013).
