SCA | Quick News | May 11, 2026
Priest update: Dead-wall Reveries reviewed, murmur of signs, The Null Cipher Suite, and MAKE
Read a review by Nick Ostrum for The Squid's Ear of Dead-wall Reveries, the recent record by the SCA's Eldritch Priest, released by Another Timbre. Read it HERE. Also, Priest just released murmur of signs, a new record of improvisations with cellist Anton Lukoszevieze of Apartment House. Listen HERE. And if you're in London, UK, Priest's pleasure drenching… is being performed by Apartment House, with Priest himself on lap steel guitar, on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 7:00 PM, at London's St Mary-at-Hill (Lovat Ln, London, UK). More HERE. In other news, Priest's new book, a long poem titled The Null Cipher Suite, has been published by Noxious Sector Press, featuring a forward by SFU English's Jeff Derksen. More HERE. Last but not least, Priest is one of the "core committee" of organizers for the Society for the Study of Affect's Methods, Atmospheres, Knowledges, Energies (MAKE) conference, set to run October 23 – 25, 2026, at SFU Harbour Centre and here at the School for the Contemporary Arts. Priest joins David Ceccetto (York University) and Ted Hiebert (Toronto Metroplitan University) as orgainzers for the panel / stream "Hexegesis, Ofs and Ons," which is calling for "papers that explore and experiment with writing as a matter not of explanation but of incantation," and "that emphasize their method(s) as a way to conjure effects and atmospheres that can’t help but affect us in their casting." The submission deadline for the panel / stream, as well as all the others in the conference, is May 29, 2026. More HERE.
Pauly's Theory for Moving Houses soundtrack & at Amon Solar
Listen to an audio work by the SCA's Mauricio Pauly, commissioned to accompany the lecture Theory for Moving Houses by Renee Gladman, which was published by as a book on May 5, 2026, by Wave Books. Listen HERE. Also, Pauly, returning to Costa Rica, is performing May 22 – 24, 2026, at Amon Solar (Calle 3, San José, Amón, 10101, Costa Rica). More HERE.
Shihab celebrates Jaddo
The SCA's Nadia Shihab helped celebrate a special retrospective screening of a newly restored trilogy of hybrid 16mm and 35mm films produced by her aunt, the Iraqi-Lebanese filmmaker Parine Jaddo, on May 3, 2026, at NYC's Anthology Film Archives (32 2nd Ave, New York, NY), presented as part of the annual Prismatic Ground festival. Nadia participated in a post-screening conversation with her aunt, as well.
Marks' Agora lecture
Watch the SCA's Laura U. Marks' lecture "From Your Body to the Cosmos: Practical Methods," presented as part of "Agora: A Gathering of Art and Philosophy," which is a "fully-funded online program ... designed to confront the challenges of our time by combining two disciplines uniquely capable of reimagining the future: art and philosophy," conceived by Andrea Bellini and Federico Campagna and presented by the Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève. As the project's site explains, "Agora will offer semester-long free programs of English-language lectures made available for free on the Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève’s digital platform, the 5th floor. Watch it HERE.
CBC on In The Shadow of the Pavilions
Read the CBC on In The Shadow of the Pavilions: Expo 86 and Contemporary Art, on at Surrey Art Gallery (13750 88 Ave, Surrey, BC) until June 7, 2026, that Jordan Strom, SCA PhD student and Surrey Art Gallery curator, curated as part of his PhD work. Read it HERE (with an embedded link to an episode of CBC Radio's North by Northwest about the exhibition, too).
Pulling To Gather with Art Action Earwig
Art Action Earwig, the "interdisciplinary multimedia and performance collective" of SCA alumnus Minah Lee, Wryly Andherson, and Tadafumi Tamura, participated in Pulling To Gather, "a community project bridging art and ecological restoration," on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the amphitheatre and duck pond at Bowen Park in Nanaimo, BC. More HERE.
Briser la glace/Splitting ice catalogue
Read an e-flux announcement that marks the closing of Briser la glace/Splitting ice, the 2026 edition of the Manif d’art—Quebec City Biennial, curated by SCA alumnus Didier Morelli, and announces the upcoming publication of catalogue about the biennial, set to be published June 2, 2026, by CÉAC. Read it HERE.
The Death of the Art School
Read an opinion piece by Hakan Topal in Hyperallergic about the how "The rampant corporatization and 'administrification' of American higher-education institutions has turned students into mere consumers." While the situation is not exactly the same in Canada, financial pressures continue to negatively effect post-secondary education up here as well, with bottom-line thinking becoming more and more a kind of brick wall. Read it HERE.
Wu is Telling It Bent
SCA alumnus Viviane Wu is participating in GERMINATE, the opening night event for the 2026 IGNITE! Youth-Driven Festival on May 13, 2026, at 8:00 PM, in The Cultch's Historic Theatre (1895 Venables St, Vancouver). Specifically, Wu is involved in the Telling It Bent Showcase, presented in collaboration with the frank theatre company. More HERE.
Venice envy?
Running May 9 – November 22, 2026, the 61st Venice Biennale is taking place in an especially fraught global context. Here's a round up of just some of the coverage so far: Artforum's Whither Biennials? On the Crisis of Global Art (which links to a set of texts by "experienced veterans" of the event), e-flux's 61st Venice Biennale, “In Minor Keys”, Frieze's National Pavilions Review: Porta-Potties, Porn and a Defiant Rave, Hyperallergic's Hundreds Protest Israel’s “Genocide Pavilion” at Venice Biennale, Artnews' The Biennale Isn’t a Court. Tell That to the Protesters, Artnet's First Impressions of a Venice Biennale Torn Apart by the Present, Artreview's There Has Never Been an Apolitical Venice Biennale, The Guardian's Dark clouds, protests and resignations dampen start of 61st Venice Biennale, NY Times' The Venice Biennale and Its Many Flashpoints: An Explainer, and Verso Books' Art has nothing to do with the UN: Internationalism as rhetoric at the Venice Biennale. There's much more out there already about the Biennale, and sure more to come, but this should help get you started, at least enough for small talk over coffee.
Vancouver Art Book Fair 2026
Running May 15 (5:00 PM – 9:00 PM), May 16 (11:00 AM – 6:00 PM), and May 17 (11:00 AM – 5:00 PM) at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver), not only does SCA MFA student Jonathan Middleton co-manage the Vancouver Art Book Fair (with Sharon Bradley), with the SCA's Kay Higgins on the Board of Directors, but this year's run also includes Publication Studio Vancouver (the SCA's Kay Higgins and Kathy Slade) and SCA alumni Hân Phạm & Liz Oakley, as exhibitors, as well as close friends of the SCA like the Gibson Art Museum and The Capilano Review. Even more, "Making Public[s]: Vancouver Art Book Fair Public Symposium," which runs parallel to the fair, includes Kathy Slade in conversation with Lisa Robertson about Robertson's Riverwork and SCA MFA student Edie Fake as part of the "Publishing as Trans Artistic Strategy" panel. Good times!
Truax on Making Waves
Barry Truax, Professor Emeritus in SFU's School of Communication, recipient of an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from SFU, and most-recently appointed to the Order of Canada, spoke with the Making Waves program on WGXC (90.7-FM). Find a link to listen to the episode, as well as a transcription, HERE.
Alfeld’s Hearse Chasing
Stir Vancouver tells us that SCA alumnus Teresa Alfeld’s new documentary, Hearse Chasing, which "follows singer-songwriter Cassidy Waring as she returns to her hometown of Calgary with her brother Cooper to confront an unresolved family tragedy," is debuted May 10, 2026, at the VIFF Centre, along with a live performance by Waring. Read it HERE – and take note of the upcoming broadcast schedule for Hearse Chasing, too!
Sound in Heart Work
SCA alumnus Michelle Sound is part of the exhibition, Heart Work, running May 7 – May 30, 2026, at Ceremonial / Art (3712 – W 10th Ave., Vancouver), with Cheyenne Rain LeGrande, Violet Johnson, and Kali Spitzer, curated by Mel Granley. More HERE.
The Biting School’s Offending the Audience
Directed by SCA alumnus Aryo Khakpour and featuring SCA alumnus Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg in the cast, The Biting School are presenting Peter Handke’s Offending the Audience for six shows from May 20 – 24, 2026, at Tyrant Studios (1019 Seymour St., Vancouver), co-produced by battery opera. More info and tickets HERE.
Gamelan Bike Bike Indonesia Tour Send-Off Concert
With SCA alumni George Rahi, Matthew Ariaratnam, and Wendy Chen, and SCA student Samira Banihashemi, Gamelan Bike Bike are playing an Indonesia Tour Send-Off Concert on May 22, 2026, from 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM, at the Revue Stage on Granville Island (1601 Johnston St, Vancouver). More info and tickets HERE.
Kong leads 2026 Art Writing Mentorship
SCA alumnus Yani Kong is leading the Centre A's 2026 Art Writing Mentorship, "Writing with Art: Edges, Interiors, Pleasures, Displeasures," running for 16 weeks this summer, includes SCA kathy feng as one of the participants and SCA alumni Jacquelyn Zong-Li Ross (who was a previous leader) and Cindy Mochizuki as two of the guest speakers. More HERE.
Wylie and Ariaratnam and friends at 8East
SCA alumni Ben Wylie and Matthew Ariaratnam are joining Samira Banihashemi and Adrian Avendaño for a show on June 3, 2026, at 8:00 PM, at 8EAST (8 E. Pender St., Vancouver). More HERE.
Cap Review's love bends / the mover: The Roy Miki Issue
The Capilano Review's "Spring 2026: love bends / the mover: The Roy Miki Issue" is out now, featuring a visual response to Miki’s poem Flow Nation by SCA alumnus Cindy Mochizuki and a new series of drawings by SCA alumnus Sena Cleave. More HERE.
The Paper Bag Princess
Congratulations to SCA alumni MJ Coomber (Sound Designer), Jonathan Kim (Lighting Designer), Kezi Jacob (Technical Director), and Hailey Gil (Assistant Technical Director) and all the rest of the cast and crew of Carousel Theatre's presentation of The Paper Bag Princess, which ran April 22 – May 10, 2026, at the Waterfront Theatre. More HERE.
Subtropical Tape Sessions
SCA alumnus Alexandre Klinke has released a new album, Subtropical Tape Sessions. Listen now on Bandcamp HERE.
Robertson, Brown, and Burnham at the People’s Co-op Bookstore
As well as speaking with the SCA's Kathy Slade as part of the Vancouver Art Book Fair (see above), Lisa Robertson will be reading from her new novel, Riverwork, and will be in conversation with SCA alumnus Lorna Brown and SFU English Professor Clint Burnham on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 7:00 PM, at the People’s Co-op Bookstore (1391 Commercial Drive, Vancouver), presented by the SFU Department of English. More HERE.
Kennedy and Helten in Des Arts Dehors / Arts Outside
SCA alumni Sarah Kennedy and Rachel Helten performed as part of Des Arts Dehors / Arts Outside on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 6161 Cambie St., Vancouver, presented by Alliance Française and The Dance West Network. More HERE.
Nieto in the Butoh Fest
SCA alumnus Salome Nieto announced that she's participating in Salish Sea Butoh's Butoh Festival, running July 25 – August 2, 2026, at Port Townsend, Washington. More HERE.
Sweat Cry – save the date!
A Wake of Vultures (SCA alumni Nancy Tam, Conor Wylie, and Dan O'Shea) and Company 605, friends of the SCA, are throwing Sweat Cry, "a sunset dance party," on June 12, 2026, at Progress Lab (1422 William St, Vancouver). They promise more info to come HERE.
Kanagawa voices Mitig
SCA alumnus Hiro Kanagawa is performing as the voice of Mitig in A Boca del Lupo and ArtstageSAN's co-production of Me & The Forest, running May 29 – 31, 2026, at Ron Basford Park on Granville Island, presented as part of the Vancouver International Children's Festival. More HERE.
The Q-y visuals of Bubble Tea from the 80s till today
SCA alumnus Snack Witch Joni Cheung is presenting The Q-y visuals of Bubble Tea from the 80s till today, a talk with bubble tea sampling, on May 21, 2026, at 7:00 PM, at Dazibao (Suite 109 (GF) – 5455, de Gaspé Ave., Montréal). More HERE.
Oriental Cowboy Moshpit
SCA alumnus Garvin Chan is presenting a reading of Oriental Cowboy Moshpit on May 31, 2026, at 2:15 PM, at the Jim Green House Studio (1885 Venables St., Vancouver), presented as part of Upintheair Theatre's rEvolver Festival. More HERE.
Elsewhere, Otherwise
SCA alumnus Yihk Qu Chan joins Violet Johnson, Amanda Kachadoorian Jordi, Nevada Lynn, Scott Massey, and Golriz Rezvani in Elsewhere, Otherwise, the UBC Master of Fine Arts Graduate Exhibition, running to May 31, 2026, at UBC's Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery (1825 Main Mall, Vancouver0. More HERE.
5-Day Fitzmaurice Voice workshop
SCA MFA student Lee Su-Feh is one of the "certified Fitzmaurice Voicework teachers" for the upcoming 5-Day Fitzmaurice Voice workshop, running June 11 –15, 2026, daily from 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM, in the Grant D. Burnyeat Studio at the BMO Theatre Centre (162 West 1st Ave., Vancouver). More HERE.
Shaffer on Bingham in Dance Central
SCA alumnus Olivia Shaffer, who is Artistic Director of EDAM Dance Company, is in conversation with Shanny Rann in the latest issue of The Dence Centre's Dance Central magazine, which is dedicated to the memory of Peter Bingham. Read it HERE.
Satellite: Blue Moon
Run by SCA alumni Charlie Cooper and c. o. valenza, the Patchbay Neighborhood Sound Lab at the Elm Park Fieldhouse (5837 Larch St., Vancouver) is hosting Satellite: Blue Moon, a free "night of stargazing and gentle, ambient music," on Sunday, May 31, 2026, from 8:30 PM – 11:00 PM. More HERE.
Exquisite Pressure x Theatre Replacement
SCA student Stefanie Infantino is the Production Designer for Elio Zarrillo's LIAM, running May 15 & 16, 2026, at 7:30 PM (doors at 7:00 PM), at What Lab (202 – 1814 Pandora St., Vancouver), presented as part of the Theatre Replacement curated edition of Exquisite Pressure. Get tickets HERE.
Chessman Hazard Codechange Household
SCA alumnus Katayoon Yousefbigloo has released Chessman Hazard Codechange Household, a new EP from her Puzzlehead project (which was celebrated at a record release show on May 9, 2026, at Sunset Terrace), on Seattle's Inu Wan Wan Records. Listen to it HERE (and grab it on limited edition vinyl while supplies last!).
Gawthrop in the Boombox
SCA alumnus Hayley Gawthrop is performing with Jessica Keeling as part of Boombox's upcoming programing (44 W 4th Ave., Vancouver) on May 21 – 23, 2026. More HERE.
DUETS: An evening of dance
Lesley Telford's Inverso Productions is presenting DUETS: An evening of dance on Sunday, May 17, 2026, from 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM, at the Annex (823 Seymour St, Vancouver), which includes SCA Barbara Adler (text and text and voice) and Eowynn Enquist (dancer). More HERE.
East Van Panto: Hercules
Writen by SCA alumnus Pedro Chamale with Marcus Youssef, Theatre Replacement's East Van Panto: Hercules, with SCA alumnus Sophie Tang as Lighting Designer and Illustrations by SCA alumnus Cindy Mochizuki, is part of The Cultch's newly announced 2026/27 season programing, running November 18, 2026, to January 3, 2027, at the York Theatre (639 Commercial Dr, Vancouver,). More HERE.
Blenkarn and Lim in Utrecht
SCA alumni Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim, the creators of asses.masses, are hosting The Gameful Revolution, a "master class," on May 14, 2026, at Creative Coding Utrecht's studio (Vlampijpstraat 84, Utrecht, Netherlands), presented as part of the SPRING Performing Arts Festival, which is running assess.masses on May 16 & 17 at BAK (Pauwstraat 13A, 3512 TG Utrecht). More HERE.
Oke and Tsai Rising Together
SCA alumni Jullianna Oke and Krystal Tsai join Kaili Che and Ysadora Dias as The Dance Centre's emergent artist cohort in their Rising Together project, which "aims to boost the capacity of emergent BIPOC artists and to engage new immigrant and refugee youth in the arts." More HERE.
Reimer in COLLIDER
SCA alumnus Jami Reimer is Theatre Replacement's latest COLLIDER Artist in Residence! Congratulations, Jami! More HERE.
Playwright Theatre Centre’s Public Workshops
Playwright Theatre Centre’s Public Workshops are back for Spring 2026. Here's what's happening: The Show Will Go On: The Basics of Running a Smooth Event with SCA alumnus Davey Calderon on May 12 & 19, online from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM; Stories that Move Us / Historias que nos Mueven with Mónica Perea on May 20 & 27, online from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM; Writing for New Musicals 101 with Deborah Vogt on May 23 & 24, from 4:00 – 6:00 PM, at PL1422 (1422 William St., Vancouver); Site-specific Theatre Workshop with Joanna Garfinkel on June 9 & 16, from 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM, at Granville Island's Festival House (1398 Cartwright St, Vancouver); Writing Scenes of Intimacy… beyond “they kiss” with SCA alumnus Melanie Yeats on June 18 & 25, online from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM; and Mapping a Creative Project: Out of your head and into the world with SCA alumnus Heidi Taylor on June 24, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, at PL1422 (1422 William St., Vancouver). For more information, prices, and to register, go HERE.
Xyshen in ARC
SCA alumnus Sybil Xyshen is participating in Electric Company Theatre's Advancing Research Capacity (ARC) Residency, running May 17 – 19, 2026, at Left of Main, coinciding with Asian Heritage Month. More HERE.
Sparvier-Wells wins!
SCA alumnus Virginia Sparvier-Wells joined Yilu Xing in receiving the 2026 Rozsa Foundation Emerging Arts Manager Award. Congratulations! More HERE.
Mak's False Reading
SCA alumnus Lauraine Mak's exhibition False Reading is running May 6 – 21, 2026, at Medrar for Contemporary Art (10 Gamal Eldin Abo ElMahsen, 8th floor, Garden City, Cairo). More HERE.
Hymn of the Weaver Birds
SCA alumnus Johnny Wu and Jocelyn Yuchia Chang's Hymn of the Weaver Birds is running May 28, 2026, from 6:30 PM – 8:30 P, at The Polygon Gallery, presented in celebration of Asian Heritage Month (101 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver). More HERE.