Wi: The Journal of Mobile Media — Active Radio … Launch and Demo :: April 7, 2009; 11:00 am – 1:00 pm :: Simultaneous Broadcast**: MONTREAL: Department of Communication Studies C-Pod Space, Room CJ 2.192; and Concordia University–Loyola Campus, 7141 Sherbrooke St. West; TORONTO: Mobile Media Lab at York University, 217 York Lanes; BOLOGNA: Marconi Foundation.

Active Radio focuses on the role and place of Active Radio. The concept of active radio comes from Jean Laurendeau’s french-language biography of Maurice Martenot — inventor of les Ondes Martenot. This early electronic musical instrument (1928) produces its sound through the interaction of two radio waves. Active Radio disrupts the passive way we often consider radio technology — as a form of mass media, with most of us on the receiving end of radiophonic broadcasts. We are pleased to bring you an issue that engages with and questions the relationship between radio and mobile practices. Guest edited by Dr. Owen Chapman, Department of Communication Studies, Concordia University. In this issue (available on April 7):

Active Radio: Editorial – Owen Chapman
Radio as Instrument – Anna Friz
Maurice Martenot, alchimiste de l’électricité – Caroline Martel
The Fourth Track: Re-visiting the Cassette-Based Portastudio – Sam Thulin
Radio Activity: Articulating the Theremin, Ondes Martenot and Hammond Organ – Owen Chapman
The Micro Radio Project – Kristen Roos
SUR-VIV-ALL: Locative Art – Marilei Fiorelli, Andre Lemos & Rob ShieldsThe Hollins Community Project: New Media, Narrative, and Affective History – Jen Boyle & Alli Crandell
Blurred and playful intersections: Karmen Franinovic’s Flo)(ps – Marie-Hélène Lemaire.

**This event will feature a live demonstration of the early electronic musical instrument, les Ondes Martenot, by Jean Laurendeau, a noted player and teacher of the device and also the biographer of its inventor, Maurice Martenot, and a theremin performance by sound artist, Anna Friz (Toronto). The launch will be telecast between the Mobile Media Lab (MML) at York University in Toronto, and also, the Marconi Foundation in Bologne, Italy. Short presentations will be made at each location before Laurendeau’s demonstration. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.

For more information about the event, please contact wieditors [at] gmail.com.