Sound in the Frying Pan

Gathering Lore is an installation that visualizes and sonifies
data from a locally installed weather station. As the weather station collects data from a variety of sensors, a computer software program chooses an appropriate weather lore to represent the data. The sound of the installation is also being directly generated by the sensor data. The greater the variation in data, the greater the fluctuations of sound.

Sound in the Frying Pan is an installation of five site-specific compositions by emerging sound artists aboard the lightship Frying Pan. Jessica Feldman, Ben Owen, Melissa Clark, Shimpei Takeda, Suzanne Thorpe, Philip White, Bart Bridger Woodstrup, and Richard Garet will expand our aural senses as they evoke sonic spectres and create alternative realities throughout the multiple levels of the historic vessel. Curated by Suzanne Thorpe and brought to you by the Electronic Music Foundation.

Smashing at ReArting Troy

Projected onto a pillar in the Atrium of downtown Troy, Smashing was exhibited as a part of "ReArting Troy" - a public art initiative to bring art into Troy for the 2009 summer.

 

 

Statement:
A sense of entitlement is just an intoxication.
Water torture leaves no evidence other than the insanity it creates.
Excessive regard for worldly concerns will be budgeted.
Those clinging to the past status quo are juggling dynamite.
This is only an advertisement; there is no fear of drowning.

For Another Nature

This piece of music was inspired by the artwork included in "Other Nature: An abstract reflection on photography and the physical world." I attempted to work in a similar process as the visual artists in Other Nature; my goal was to create an abstract sound environment from the sonic images I collected from Peebles Island State Park (in Waterford, NY at the confluence of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers). All of the sounds (except for the vocalist) were recorded on March 9, 2009 at Peebles Island and then resynthesized using custom digital audio software. Megan Hyravy (Klebbe) is a Chicago-based opera singer and it is her voice that has been re-synthesized into many of the bird-like sounds heard throughout the piece.

The work is being exhibited at Carrie Haddad Photographs in Hudson, NY through April 19th. I will post a link to the audio when the show comes down.

photo credit: Johannes Courtens

Vodcast Vol. 6 Inter-Species Duets with David Rothenberg

Yet another installment of my Vodcast podcast series. This time I have a candid conversation about Why Birds Sing and Thousand Mile Song with author David Rothenberg.

David Rothenberg is a musician(clarinet), philosopher, and author interested in the relationships between humanity and nature. He has recently published two books: "Why Birds Sing" - a creative exploration into the mysteriously delightful songs of birds, and "Thousand Mile Song" - a sonic journey into the concert hall beneath the sea. In these books he discusses the relationship that scientists, poets, and musicians have to their winged and finned counterparts. In addition he relates many of his own experiences performing music with these animals. In this podcast, I ask him about his recent work and he shares with us some recordings of his performances. His work can be purchased wherever books and CD's are sold. For more information you can visit whybirdssing.com and thousandmilesong.com

Time Out by Kathy High at Exit Art

“Petition for Lab Rat Shelter”
Artist: Kathy High
Construction: Bart Woodstrup

Over the past week I helped Kathy High design and build a plexiglas rat maze for an upcoming bio-art exhibit at Exit Art: Corpus Extremus (LIFE+) February 28 – April 18, 2009

From the exhibit documentation: "For Exit Art, High designed pieces that are for future enrichment of the rats' lab environments, and also recognizing these non-human collaborators as the invisible heroes of science. Transgenic lab rats and science technicians work side-by-side in sterile laboratories. High has designed playful prototypes for the technicians and rats, with an exploratory time out maze designed to strengthen cognitive abilities, and also a space where lab technicians and rats may interact skin-to-skin, using the sense of touch to encourage health."

Digital Rituals at Republic

Alex Chechile and I performed at Republic's inaugural exhibition "Digital Rituals." Alex generated multiple channels of warm, analog and digital sound synthesis, while I supplied synchronous graphics, projected onto the performance space.

Merce Cunningham Dance Studio

Continuing my collaboration with the Clyde Forth Visual Theatre, I practiced with them at the Merce Cunningham Dance Studio in NYC. Our efforts culminate with shows at the Cunningham Studios on September 11 and 12, 2009. With the inclusion of two new dancers and a slew of new visual effects, this show keeps getting better and better.

Songs For Presidents

I was invited by my friend Jefferson Pitcher to provide visual support for "Songs for Presidents: A Bands for Lands Benefit" - celebrating the Presidential inauguration with performances from the critically acclaimed album "Of Great and Mortal Men: 43 Songs for 43 U.S. Presidencies." January 17 - Sixth & I Historic Synagogue - Washington, DC 20001

Featuring:* Nellie McKay * Jukebox the Ghost * These United States * Laura Burhenn * Tim Fite * Joe Pug * Magnolia Summer * Denison Witmer * Silver Darling * Tom Carter (Charalambides) * and many more!

Smashing

This is a test for a video that was shown at Albany's First Friday in January 2009. A more advanced version of this will be incorporated with the video I am producing for the Clyde Forth Visual Theater.