CAOS Calgary Animated Objects Society
Encyclopedia
Calgary Animated Objects Society (CAOS) is a non-profit charitable arts organization based in Calgary
, Alberta, Canada.
Founded in 2003, CAOS is dedicated to the arts of mask, puppetry and animated objects, and to building community through art. CAOS's major projects include the biennial International Festival of Animated Objects
, and "Spirit of White Buffalo" a giant animated puppet and arts residency.
CAOS provides artistic opportunities through its activities, and initiates youth and community activities such as Young Spirit Voices, an aboriginal youth drama project, the Ramsay
"Halloween Scream" and "The Great Ramsay
Kinetic Sculpture Race".
CAOS also produces original art works, such as Spirit of White Buffalo. Guided by artist Xstine Cook, this giant kinetic sculpture was built by incarcerated men in Drumheller Institution
, in collaboration with local artists, Jeff De Boer, and youth. "Spirit of White Buffalo" appeared at the 2007 Calgary Stampede Parade, and was awarded first place in "Best Western Theme".
CAOS is led by founder Xstine Cook, a mask
and puppet
artist, who also makes short films, plays the saw, performs spoken word, and is a fire artist. Xstine co-founded and was co-artistic director of Green Fools Theatre for 13 years prior to founding CAOS. Xstine trained at the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre
in Blue Lake, California
.
Calgary Animated Objects Society has received national coverage for its activities consistently since 2005. The Globe and Mail, one of Canada's most respected national daily newspapers accredited CAOS with putting "Calgary in the pop-culture vanguard" in recognition of the International Festival of Animated Objects' programming, the same Globe & Mail article also drew attention to how "Calgary...has become one of the most fertile spots in North America for ground-breaking puppetry".
CAOS and the festival propel a very active local mask and puppetry tradition into an international arena, all the while bringing international attention to the city of Calgary. Extensive coverage for the organization can be found in FFWD magazine-Calgary's weekly arts & culture publication: "Calgary is a hotbed of original, unorthodox puppet work" (quote from an article written to cover CAOS's festival).
The organizations' activities can be read about in various media: CBC Radio, CKUA Radio, CTV, and CityTV, CJSW Radio, The Calgary Herald, Legacy Magazine, This Magazine, The Gauntlet, Metro News, BeatRoute Magazine and numerous community-level publications.
CAOS was recently awarded the "Innovative Business Practices Award" from the Rozsa Foundation for Arts Management, a prestigious honour from Calgary's business community.
SPIRIT OF WHITE BUFFALO
Born in jail, now free to roam the earth, Spirit of White Buffalo is a 12 foot tall human powered kinetic sculpture. CAOS founder Xstine Cook worked with native artists and elders, metal wizard Jeff De Boer, bike experts, and inmates from Drumheller Institution, who created her.
We acknowledge the teachings and words of Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Maiden Bundle, and thank him for sharing Lakota stories with us.
About 2000 years ago, the Lakota people of the great plains were going through a time of starvation. A holy woman came to them, bringing a bundle with seven sacred teachings.
These teachings became the foundation of Lakota spiritual practice. The holy woman told the Lakota she would return in a time of great need, as a white buffalo.
White buffalo have been born every year since 1994.
SPIRIT OF WHITE BUFFALO in CULTURE CAMPS
Spirit of White Buffalo travels Turtle Island with a group of professional artists from many backgrounds and walks of life, sharing art practices from around the world with children, youth, and interested adults. While sharing experiences and skills, the people of Spirit of White Buffalo grow by learning about the traditions and cultures of the communities they visit.
“My people will sleep for one hundred years, when they awake it will be the artists who give them their spirit back.”
—Louis Riel
External Links:
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta, Canada.
Founded in 2003, CAOS is dedicated to the arts of mask, puppetry and animated objects, and to building community through art. CAOS's major projects include the biennial International Festival of Animated Objects
International Festival of Animated Objects
The International Festival of Animated Objects is a biennial festival sponsored by the non-profit group CAOS Calgary Animated Objects Society that promotes the arts of puppetry, mask, and animated objects. It takes place in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada....
, and "Spirit of White Buffalo" a giant animated puppet and arts residency.
CAOS provides artistic opportunities through its activities, and initiates youth and community activities such as Young Spirit Voices, an aboriginal youth drama project, the Ramsay
Ramsay
Ramsay may refer to:*Ramsay , for people named Ramsay*Ramsay , an impact crater on the Moon*Ramsay, Calgary, Alberta, Canada*Ramsay, Michigan, U.S.*Ramsay *Electoral district of Ramsay, in South Australia...
"Halloween Scream" and "The Great Ramsay
Ramsay
Ramsay may refer to:*Ramsay , for people named Ramsay*Ramsay , an impact crater on the Moon*Ramsay, Calgary, Alberta, Canada*Ramsay, Michigan, U.S.*Ramsay *Electoral district of Ramsay, in South Australia...
Kinetic Sculpture Race".
CAOS also produces original art works, such as Spirit of White Buffalo. Guided by artist Xstine Cook, this giant kinetic sculpture was built by incarcerated men in Drumheller Institution
Drumheller Institution
The Drumheller Institution is a medium-security prison operated in Drumheller, Alberta by the Correctional Service of Canada. It was opened in 1967, and also includes a 72-bed minimum-security facility. As of 6 April, 2004, the medium security section had a rated capacity of 598.- References :*...
, in collaboration with local artists, Jeff De Boer, and youth. "Spirit of White Buffalo" appeared at the 2007 Calgary Stampede Parade, and was awarded first place in "Best Western Theme".
CAOS is led by founder Xstine Cook, a mask
Mask
A mask is an article normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance or entertainment. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes...
and puppet
Puppet
A puppet is an inanimate object or representational figure animated or manipulated by an entertainer, who is called a puppeteer. It is used in puppetry, a play or a presentation that is a very ancient form of theatre....
artist, who also makes short films, plays the saw, performs spoken word, and is a fire artist. Xstine co-founded and was co-artistic director of Green Fools Theatre for 13 years prior to founding CAOS. Xstine trained at the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre
Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre
The Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre is located in Northern California in the town of Blue Lake, California in Humboldt County, California near the major population centers of Eureka and Arcata...
in Blue Lake, California
Blue Lake, California
Blue Lake is a city in Humboldt County, California, United States. Blue Lake is located on the Mad River northeast of Eureka, at an elevation of 131 feet...
.
Calgary Animated Objects Society has received national coverage for its activities consistently since 2005. The Globe and Mail, one of Canada's most respected national daily newspapers accredited CAOS with putting "Calgary in the pop-culture vanguard" in recognition of the International Festival of Animated Objects' programming, the same Globe & Mail article also drew attention to how "Calgary...has become one of the most fertile spots in North America for ground-breaking puppetry".
CAOS and the festival propel a very active local mask and puppetry tradition into an international arena, all the while bringing international attention to the city of Calgary. Extensive coverage for the organization can be found in FFWD magazine-Calgary's weekly arts & culture publication: "Calgary is a hotbed of original, unorthodox puppet work" (quote from an article written to cover CAOS's festival).
The organizations' activities can be read about in various media: CBC Radio, CKUA Radio, CTV, and CityTV, CJSW Radio, The Calgary Herald, Legacy Magazine, This Magazine, The Gauntlet, Metro News, BeatRoute Magazine and numerous community-level publications.
CAOS was recently awarded the "Innovative Business Practices Award" from the Rozsa Foundation for Arts Management, a prestigious honour from Calgary's business community.
SPIRIT OF WHITE BUFFALO
Born in jail, now free to roam the earth, Spirit of White Buffalo is a 12 foot tall human powered kinetic sculpture. CAOS founder Xstine Cook worked with native artists and elders, metal wizard Jeff De Boer, bike experts, and inmates from Drumheller Institution, who created her.
We acknowledge the teachings and words of Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Maiden Bundle, and thank him for sharing Lakota stories with us.
About 2000 years ago, the Lakota people of the great plains were going through a time of starvation. A holy woman came to them, bringing a bundle with seven sacred teachings.
These teachings became the foundation of Lakota spiritual practice. The holy woman told the Lakota she would return in a time of great need, as a white buffalo.
White buffalo have been born every year since 1994.
SPIRIT OF WHITE BUFFALO in CULTURE CAMPS
Spirit of White Buffalo travels Turtle Island with a group of professional artists from many backgrounds and walks of life, sharing art practices from around the world with children, youth, and interested adults. While sharing experiences and skills, the people of Spirit of White Buffalo grow by learning about the traditions and cultures of the communities they visit.
“My people will sleep for one hundred years, when they awake it will be the artists who give them their spirit back.”
—Louis Riel
External links
Official Site:External Links: