One chorus, one song, one semester: Ithaca College COMPLAINTS CHOIR!

01/28/16

WE WANT YOU! (...to complain...)

The Ithaca College Complaints Choir is recruiting community members to participate in this international project, conceptualized by Finnish artists Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen.

What is the Complaints Choir?

• It all got started during a winter day walk of Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen in Helsinki. Perhaps it was due to the coldness of the day that they ended up discussing the possibility of transforming the huge energy people put into complaining into something else. Perhaps not directly into heat – but into something powerful anyway.
  In the Finnish vocabulary there is an expression “Valituskuoro”. It means “Complaints Choir” and it is used to describe situations where a lot of people are complaining simultaneously.  Kalleinen and Kochta-Kalleinen thought: “Wouldn´t it be fantastic to take this expression literally and organize a real choir in which people sing about their complaints?” As complaining is a universal phenomenon the project could be organized in any city around the world.The first was in Birmingham (U.K.) but there have now been well over 140 Complaints Choirs all over the world! 

Okay, cool!  But why here, now?

• The culminating choir performance will coincide with the opening reception of the exhibition, NO/GOOD PLACE (March 23-April 22, 2016), an exhibition featuring work by Finnish artists making work about utopia, curated by Ithaca College Professor of Art History Paul Wilson.

Neat!  But what if I cant sing? Does it cost money to participate? What if I don’t go to Ithaca College?

• Everyone is welcome – faculty, students, staff, Ithacans. Singing ability is optional– amateurs are welcome! Participation is 100% free.

What will we be singing about?

• The content of the song will reflect the complaints of those who participate. The lyrics will be workshopped between choir members at the first meeting, and then put to song before the first rehearsal by a student composer.

But, what if I don't have any complaints?

• What? Really? We don't believe you! To complain is to insist that the world can and should be better! These can be serious or mundane, personal or political.  Complaints about the weather, the dating scene, the grade you got, the gum you stepped in this morning, your neighbor's noise, the price of cellphone chargers--all complaints are welcome!  

Hmmm.  What kind of time commitment should I anticipate? 

• About 7-10 hours of time stretched over six weeks! SCHEDULE:
  • Organizational Meeting & Complaints Workshop: 6-7:30PM, February 10 (Wed.) ***Handwerker Gallery
  • Rehearsals: 6-7PM, February 22 (Mon.) 6-7PM, February 29 (Mon.) 6-7PM, March 7 (Mon.) 6-7PM, March 21 (Mon.) ***All rehearsals in Whalen 2105
  • Performance: 6PM, March 24 (Thurs.), ***Handwerker Gallery Other possible performances: TBA!

So, who is in charge?

• The Ithaca College Complaints Choir is being organized by several students, faculty, staff, and community members in an act of collectivity/collaboration. 
  • CURATOR: Paul Wilson (Professor of Art History)
  • GALLERY DIRECTOR: Mara Baldwin
  • COORDINATOR: Joanna Kowalski ’17
  • COMPOSER: Duncan Krummel ’17
  • CONDUCTOR: Tuulikki Tammi
  • VIDEOGRAPHER: Christian Kozlowski ’17
  • DOCUMENTATION EDITOR: Sydney Kovar ’16

I’m in! How do I sign up?

• Direct any other questions to: iccomplaintschoir@gmail.com by February 8th!

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Check out our original Intercom post of a list of links to other Complaints Choirs around the world:

https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20160126132415459#.VqpeCZMrJuU

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