Where Fantasy, Role Playing, and Hidden Treasures are only a drop kick away...

InterAccess is pleased to present Ogres, Halflings, Night Elves and Chuck Norris, an exhibition featuring 2 works by new media pioneer Eddo Stern. With kinetic shadow puppets of knights, warriors and our favourite 1980's action heroes that light up the room with flashes of colour and movement, and an animated verbal argument disputing the technicalities of the online game Everquest, the exhibition both embraces and exposes popular ideas of manhood, chivalry, and bravery in popular culture. Ogres, Halflings, Night Elves and Chuck Norris is presented in association with the 21st Annual Images Festival, April 3- 13, 2008. For more information about the festival please visit http://www.imagesfestival.com.

Please join us on Friday, April 4th at 8pm for a special opening reception and Images party entitled LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE! or Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table, because he only recognizes the element of surprise. This party opens up both floors of InterAccess to the public and offers krazy kung fu action and roundhouse kicks for all!

Over the past year, Eddo Stern clocked in 2,000 hours of online gaming-- immersing himself in such popular Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG) as World of Warcraft and Everquest. Stern's intense dedication and hands-on research have resulted in the works Shadow Puppets and Best Flame War Ever (King of Bards vs. Squire Rex, June 2004). Reminiscent of traditional Chinese shadow plays, Stern's Shadow Puppets take this ancient form of storytelling into a modern context with autonomous puppets made of Plexiglas in lieu of paper, and light bulbs instead of oil lamps. Using similar plotlines and conventions, Stern's version of 'good vs. evil' takes the form of trolls, dragons, elves, and of course, Chuck Norris fighting for what�s right.

In Best Flame War Ever (King of Bards vs. Squire Rex, June 2004), Stern takes a real online written dispute between gamers off the computer screen and into the gallery, giving both gamers a personality and a voice. Two meticulously composed computer animated masks represent the men in dispute, with an enticing, hilarious and sadly real narrated dialogue. Arguing technicalities, rules and terms that apply only to a tiny percentage of the population, Best Flame War Ever is surprising accessible, luring the viewer into its train-wreck-like world.

Eddo Stern is an artist and game designer. He was born in Tel Aviv, Israel and lives in Los Angeles. He works on the disputed borderlands between fantasy and reality, exploring the uneasy and otherwise unconscious connections between physical existence and electronic simulation. His work explores new modes for narrative and documentary, experimental and multidisciplinary computer game design, and cross-cultural representation in new media. He works with various media, including software, hardware and game design, live performance, video, and kinetic sculpture. His short machinima films include Sheik Attack, Vietnam Romance, Landlord Vigilante and Deathstar. He is the founder of the now retired art and technology cooperative C-level where he designed and co-produced the experimental computer gaming projects Waco Resurrection, Tekken Torture Tournament, Cockfight Arena and LA MOOd. He is currently developing Darkgame, a sensory deprivation computer game. His work has been widely exhibited at international venues including The Tate Gallery Liverpool, Reina Sofia, E3, GDC, Kunsthalle D�sseldorf, The ICA, The New Museum in NYC, The Rotterdam Film Festival, ICC Tokyo, The Art Gallery of Ontario, and The Sundance Film Festival. Online at http://www.eddostern.com.

InterAccess gratefully thanks the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Media Contact: Jennifer, Assistant Curator/Education Coordinator (416) 599-7206 or email Jennifer[dot]cherniack[at]interaccess[dot]org.

Gallery hours: Wednesday through Saturday, 12-5 pm