Arts & Culture pages 12 to

Lighting up the night with living lanterns

Nuit Blanche exhibit by BIOM_Lab features lanterns made of biomaterial

Alex Braun, staff

Uof M’s faculty of architecture research group BIOM_Lab works producing and applying the use of biomaterials, exploring their structural, practical and design potential.

Headed by Mercedes Garcia-Holguera, the team has mainly focused on using two biological sources for their materials — mycelium, a structure of fungal fibres, and bacterial cellulose, a substance synthesized by bacteria that is chemically similar to the material that makes up plant cell walls. Eventually, the team hopes that these materials can be grown in northern and remote areas where more common building materials are hard to come by, helping to foster independence for the communities living there.

The project is also looking to make these biomaterials part of a sustainable, circular economy by incorporating recycled materials such as agricultural and industrial waste into its mycelium products. Though the practical and environmental benefits of these materials remain the group’s focus, the substances also display some aesthetic and artistic potential.

Garcia-Holguera explained that while dyeing and taking photos of the material during experimentation, the team found some beautiful aspects to the work. However, she stressed that the materials will differ from photographs when viewed in person. In the interest of gauging the public’s reaction to these remarkable but strange new materials, the BIOM_Lab is presenting an exhibit at this Winnipeg’s Nuit Blanche, a night of public art exhibits and performances Downtown and in The Exchange.

The exhibition, titled Elucida and headed by U of M studo with this exhibition is to show the public these materials, and also to get the public reaction,” Garcia-Holguera said. “Do they like it? Do they find it gross? Do they find it beautiful?”

Garcia-Holguera explained that the idea behind using lanterns is to give the public a more palatable introduction to the materials, as the objects interact with the light in a flattering way.

Beyond lamps, the lab is looking into bacterial cellulose’s potential regarding tensile structures such as canopies, which would normally be made out of fabric.

If photos of the lanterns from the team’s Instagram are to be believed, it will be a quite striking exhibit. The chance to encounter a new biological building material is rare, and not an opportunity to be missed.

provided BIOM_Lab / photo /

dent Dominico IV Obmerga, will feature an assortment of lanterns with dyed bacterial cellulose material stretched over their frames, lighting up Stephen Juba Park the night of Sept. 24. The display is interactive, offering a visual and physical experience for people walking through the space.

“Basically what we want to

Elucida will be on display Sept. 24 at Stephen Juba Park as part of Nuit Blanche.

arts@themanitoban.com

Bisons football captures first win of the season

Rainy weather conditions play a huge factor

Matthew Merkel, staff

The University of Manitoba Bisons football team faced off against UBC in a wet and wild contest Friday night. The U of M was able to outlast the Thunderbirds, taking the game 21-16 to give them their first win of the season.

Playing on a soaked IG field, the Bisons were put to the test by the UBC offence. Thunderbird quarterback Garrett Rooker passed for 200 yards, while running back Dane Kapler had a monster game rushing for 175. Although the Bisons defence was missing a couple starters, they were still able to stop UBC’s offence from scoring any touchdowns.

On the other side of the ball, a few younger players stepped up for the herd. Firstyear players Zachary Wynne and Ishe Matanga both caught their first career Canada West touchdowns, and secondyear player Jackson Tachinski snuck in to the endzone to score from the 1-yard line.

Down 21-16 late in the fourth, the Thunderbirds made a late drive for the endzone but ran out of time.

With a win under their belt, the Bisons move to 1-2 on the season.

They will face the University of Calgary Dinos in the Homecoming game this Saturday at 2 p.m.

sports@themanitoban.com

staff Matthew Merkel / photos /

Winnipeg sports teams’ schedules

U of M Bisons — Women’s Soccer

UBC Thunderbirds @ Bisons

Sept. 17 — Final: 2 – 1 Victoria Vikes @ Bisons Sept. 18 — Final: 1 – 0 Saskatchewan Huskies @ Bisons Sept. 23 — 7:30 p.m. Regina Cougars @ Bisons Sept. 24 — 7:30 p.m.

U of M Bisons — Men’s Hockey

Bisons @ Regina Cougars Sept. 15 — Final: 4 – 3 Bisons @ MacEwan Griffins Sept. 16 — Final: 5 – 4 / OT Lakehead Timberwolves @ Bisons Sept. 23 — 7 p.m. Regina Cougars @ Bisons Sept. 25 — 2 p.m.

U of M Bisons — Men’s Football

UBC Thunderbirds @ Bisons Calgary Dinos @ Bisons Sept. 16 — Final: 16 – 21 Sept. 24 — 2 p.m.

U of M Bisons — Men’s Golf

St. John’s Invitational Team Final: Tied for 7th place

U of M Bisons — Cross Country

Roy Griak Invitational Sept. 23

Valour FC

Atlético Ottawa @ Valour Valour @ York United Sept. 18 — Final: 1 – 1 Sept. 23 — 6:30 p.m.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Blue Bombers @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats Sept. 17 — Final: 31 – 48 Saskatchewan Roughriders @ Blue Bombers Sept. 30 — 7 p.m.