We invite you to welcome the exciting artists that will join us for our Artists Residencies, a scheme commissioned by Watershed to support projects at the juncture of art, pervasive technologies and culture.

Running throughout April and May, the scheme will offer many opportunities for you to join the conversation. You could help test out ideas at Watershed, take part in discussions, or simply follow the artists’ online journals. This event will kick-start the conversation with introductions to the artists’ work followed by a Q&A session. 

3.30pm: Hazel Grian / Daemon

Daemon is not just a robot or a pet; Daemon is your inner self made visible in the physical world. It knows your character, responds to your thoughts and follows your physical actions. Now let your Daemon take you on an adventure!

Writer/director Hazel Grian investigates how a robotic character can work in unison with its real life counterpart and introduces an adventure narrative in the tradition of Pullman’s His Dark Materials and Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings to the relationship between man and machine. 

Hazel has spent the past 4 years focusing on Alternate Reality Games - multi-platform interactive narratives crossing the digital and the physical worlds, engaging online audiences in collective creative experiences. For Daemon she will be working with Dr Kenton O’Hara at Microsoft Research to explore the area of robotics and narrative.

Follow Hazel’s project blog at: www.pmstudio.co.uk/project/daemon-hazel-grian

3.50pm: Jay Kerry & Becca Gill / Magic and all that is ascribed to it

Jay and Becca will use this opportunity to experiment with illusions invented by magicians and engineers in the 19th and early 20th century and reinvent these utilising film, performance and pervasive technologies. They're looking to maintain the aesthetic of 19th century illusions whilst creating 21st century narratives within site-specific installation.

Jay is a trained actor, technician and aerial acrobat with 10 years of experience in creating experimental performance work as a performer and technician. He has presented live art and performance works in a variety of spaces including Bodmin Jail, Rougemont Gardens, Phoenix Arts Centre and Exeter Northcott.

Becca works as an independent director and producer, creating multi-disciplinary arts events. Her main areas of focus include site responsive performance, physical/visual theatre, new writing, and performance/live art. She has most recently directed a South West tour of Paradise, produced by Salt Factory and written by Nell Leyshon.

Follow their project blog at: www.pmstudio.co.uk/project/jay-kerry-and-becca-gill