Why Do I Never See You At The Club

Opening Reception: Friday April 4, 7-9pm. 

 “There’s a whole element that’s lost out there of how grand a party can be. What drama and what can really happen when somebody plays music that is not just a succession of beats, or a collection of this week’s new releases, but is actually an inspired reading. It’s a message, it’s a telling.” — François Kevorkian

“It’s a unique situation when dancer becomes part of the whole setting of the music being played.” In this, the DJ is as much part of the audience as the dancers. “Basically, you have one foot on the dancefloor and one in the booth.” — David Mancuso. (Last Night a DJ Saved My Life By Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton 2006) 

With corporate/nationalist interests increasingly co-opting dance music’s “Peace, Love, Unity, Respect (PLUR)” aesthetics for capital gain and as a means to legitimize state violence, “Why Do I Never See You at the Club?” explores how people use dance-music to build local knowledge and create opportunities that serve our community’s needs for play, connection, skill-sharing, and placemaking.

Curated by Places and featuring local Hamilton artists, Why Do I Never See You at the Club? is a multimedia project that explores and celebrates dance music culture through nightlife memorabilia, photography, collage, and video works. The event-driven exhibition invites you to film screenings on global rave culture; panel discussions on party organizing and safety in club spaces; workshops for the shy and dance-curious; weekly broadcasts featuring local selectors; and a living library of found objects offering a glimpse into Hamilton’s history of dance music culture—all anchored by a DIY DJ altar station for live playing and sonic exploration.

We create the club we want to go. This exhibit turns the gaze toward the dancefloor/gallery for (un)familiar modes of participation—watching, listening, mixing, mingling, jumping, creating breathing, thinking, dancing, and connecting.

Places is a Hamilton-based artist collective exploring the social and experimental sides of DJing, radio, and sound. Co-founded by Jeff Chow (Dunaway), Nikhil Rajput (Peachface Lovedeep), Vania Void (woodland bot), and Jac Hypolite (godemperor), Places evolved from a weekly radio show on CFMU and has since expanded into live events, community workshops, and multimedia projects.

Rooted in collaboration and curiosity, Places treats DJing as more than just mixing one track to another—it’s a tool for education, pleasure and community building. The collective is drawn to mixes that blend spoken word, analog radio, DIY aesthetics, and unconventional formats.

At its heart, Places aims to make DJing and sound art more accessible. By creating events and for skill-sharing, experimentation, and collective listening, the group challenges the idea that DJ culture is exclusive or technical. Instead, they embrace an open-ended approach—one that invites people to engage with music in their own way, whether as selectors, dancers, or listeners.

No AI Statement

Throughout the preparation and duration of the exhibition, we are committed to not using AI-generated technology for writing, editing text, creating artworks, or altering existing works. We also encourage participating artists to uphold this commitment in their submissions.

PACBI Statement

Places is endorsing the Palestinian Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) support of Palestinian artists worldwide and follows over 58 collectives, venues, cultural organizations, and more who have also endorsed this call.