As Murray Whyte reports on his blog, one of the most exciting things the group has done thus far is organize a regatta of eleven canoes, each sponsored by and emblazoned with the logo of a Canadian art organization, through the city’s canals.

Inspired by Paul Butler‘s Reverse Pedagogy self-directed artist residency at the Banff Centre last spring, the Venice-bound group includes a star-studded roster of Canadian artists and curators, including organizers Dean Baldwin, Nicholas Brown, Paul Butler, Gregory Elgstrand, Chen Tamir, and artists Katie Bethune-Leamen, Bruno Billio, Catharine Dean, Fastwürms, Kelly Mark, Paulette Phillips, Jade Rude, Jon Sasaki, and Swintak (among others).

The aim of the collective is to create collaborative interventions, performances and field trips that allow the artists to experiment and even fail outside of the realm of the “professional art world” – a description that definitely fits the Venice Biennale’s opening weekend. Future Reverse Pedagogy residencies will be held this fall in Ireland and Vancouver (at the excellent Presentation House Gallery) and next winter at Flux Factory in New York.

The group’s blog keeps readers updated on their Venice exploits.