On January 26, I, along with about 30 other Edmontonian social media types were treated to an exclusive sneak peak inside the City’s newest “attraction”.

The title of the post came from the tour… it seems they reffered to the move as “Back to Square 2″: An updated, rethought, re-imagining of a momentous building in the city, but also, the address of the Gallery, 2 Sir Winston Churchill Square.

Sarah Hoyles, Media Relations & Communications Coordinator, and Gilles Hebert, Executive Director, led us on a tour of the galleries, the social spaces, rooftop patio, restaurant, teaching spaces, theatre, and even the newest Starbucks in town.

While it was enjoyable there was some dissapointing news:

• No wireless internet in the Art Gallery;
• No student day/or reduced admission for students;
• No word on upcoming exhibits (while I did ask, the tour leaders were understandbly quite quiet about future shows).

But the project did finish:

• On budget;
• On time;
• Not in last place.

So, I guess it is better then a few other attractions in the city (read: Oilers).

I can’t wait to see the shows currently up at the AGA when it finally opens  the doors to the public on January 31.

Thank you to everyone who was on the tour, and to the wonderful Art Gallery for reaching out to our community. The rest of the photos are up here!

Do you play a musical instrument? If so, you will probably agree that musicians have an inherent ability to collaborate. They even have their own word for it. Musicians “jam” together all the time, and every musician that I know enjoys playing together more then practicing alone.

Why should we collaborate?

1. Ownership breeds acceptance.
2. The best people are not in your group.
3. Synergy, the sum is greater then the parts.
4. Increased power, influence, and resources.
5. Investing rule #1: Diversity ensures growth.

How to collaborate?

1. Utilize interconnections.
2. Find individuals and groups with parallel interests.
   
3. Provide specific goal sets to the appropriate individuals.
   
4. Focus on noticeable impact rather then tireless work.
5. Create suitable physical and online collaborative spaces

How to stay effective?

1. Use meeting time to meet, not schedule.
2. Require goal oriented focus at every interaction.
   
3. Work within time assigned tasks, define short/long term.
4. Give credit where credit is due.
5. Democratic decision making.

Don’t be afraid to commit you, and your groups time to a collaboration that is parallel to your vision, but may not point specifically to your vision. Those that you work with will be  the ones that work with you in the future.

Let’s take a lesson from all the musicians; start naturally collaborating and create something great together.

After hearing about a sneak peek of Alberta’s newest gallery from Mack Male, I was really hoping that I would be contacted to attend. Low and behold I was invited and very much look forward to the tour, as well as documenting the tour on my blog, and twitter, and then sharing it with the world.

Bloggers’ Day at the AGA: The AGA would like to invite you, as part of Edmonton’s social media community, to a private tour of the our new building led by AGA Executive Director, Gilles Hebert.

Two weeks ago I was playing around in the iPhone App store and thought to myself how cool it would be if I had my own iPhone App.

I wanted something that would connect my blog, my twitter, and my Youtube. I was also hoping for some flickr integration, but I am sure that is on it’s way.

Needless to say, working with MotherApp BlogEngine, I was able to launch a Kory Mathewson iPhone App, available for download as of January 21 2010.

I am very impressed with the look and feel of the application, and it seamlessly integrates several of my online profiles, not all, but several.

This application is sure to create some buzz and interest, and is really motivating me to produce good content for the blog-twitter-youtubes.

Take a look at it, rate it, review it and then let me know what you think!

I have already marked a few posts and tweets as my favorite. Improvements that could be made include:

1. integration with flickr,
2. adding a search, and
3. adding a small picture on the about page.

We Are Not Amused: The 2010 London Improvathon
From 7pm Friday Jan 22nd 2010 to 9pm Sunday Jan 24th 2010
A 50-hour improvised comedy set in Victorian England

• What secrets lie in the shadows and fog of gaslit London?
• What mysteries lurk in the old music hall theatre?
• What horror hides in the castle overlooking the eerie Dudley Moors?

As sleep deprivation kicks in, the players become too tired to censor themselves, resulting in a unique and euphoric live performance. Directed live by Dana Andersen; presented by award-winning theatre company The Sticking Place and Canadian improv legends Die Nasty. It is getting some fantastic press:

“Nicholas Rowe and Alan Cox, who played Holmes and Watson respectively in Barry Levinson’s 1985 film Young Sherlock Holmes, are to reprise their roles live on stage for the 2010 London Improvathon 25 years after they appeared together on screen.”

Expect surreal comedy, dazzling drama and countless historical inaccuracies.

Over 50 actors and musicians from all over the world will create some of the best improvised comedy and drama on the London stage for 50 hours of non-stop, madness and mayhem.

SKETCH IT!, “Canada’s wackiest sketch troupe” (the New York Times), is coming to the Varscona stage this weekend! Comin’ atcha, straight out of Cornwall Ontario!

Five players will get a suggestion (or “ask for”, or “prompt”) from YOU (“the audience”) and incorporate it as a basis for their hilarious laff-a-minute sketches! Between sketches, the team of funnymen (and one funnywoman) will convene onstage and riff, coming up with the most brilliant sketch ideas, right before your very eyes! Then, they will perform these sketches!

Ever wonder what it would be like if deers ran a coffee shop? Come and see SKETCH IT! and find out! I’m sure it would be called STARBUCKS! HA HA HEE HEE HA HA HO!

Skewing reality as only Canada’s wackiest sketch troupe can! Sound too wacky for real life? Then come see it on the stage!

What about a robot wife?

Performed by Mike Robertson, Joey Lucius, Paul Blinov, Kory Mathewson, and Hannah Spear, with possible guests!

ONLY TEN BUCKS! THIS SATURDAY AT CHIMPROV! 11 PM START TIME!

OPENERS “TIGER CATS” WILL ROCK YOUR ASS WITH AN AWESOME UNHOLY TRIAD OF COMEDY. FEATURING NICK SHOSTAK, LISA AMERONGEN and TIM MIKULA.

CLOSED OUT BY “LIKE FATHER LIKE SON” the hilarious storytelling team of JULIAN FAID and JESSIE McPHEE WILL CUTE YOU INTO SUBMISSION. FEATURING special SPLEEPOVER GUEST RICHARD LAM!

HOSTED BY THE IMMORTAL TESS DEGENSTEIN!!

BE THERE OR BE A RHOMBUS!