WEB MAIDENS

By Joanne Latimer

Maid in Cyberspace is the spot-on title for Studio XX's fourth Web art festival. But how exactly does a Web fest work? The Studio's regular Web site is a temporary portal leading to the URLs of 10 chosen artists who present their work online. There will also be a "brick and mortar" aspect to the festival, including live performances, workshops, installations, discussions and a simultaneous Web jam of audio and video streaming from Australia, New York and Italy.

 "Web-based art is a very new art genre," notes filmmaker Studio XX co-founder Patricia Kearns. "We opened the Studio as a resource centre to give women access to digital technology and Web-based art didn't really exist then--just five year ago."

 Studio XX got a juicy grant ($60,000 over two years) to expand their workshops and facilities. Maid in Cyberspace is another good use of the grant money, which is sponsoring the 10 international artists being spotlighted. Catch local artist Jody Bielum's piece "Transmute," that references Virginia Woolf's The Waves. And Montreal DJ Nancy Tobin will get top billing on closing night. The festival runs until Feb. 11 at the Cine#233;mathèque que#233;be#233;coise and online at www.studioxx.org. Info: 845-7934.