The Sound of Art was the first project created by the Art Galley of Ontario’s Youth Council in 2008. Working with guest artist Nobuo Kubota, the Youth Council sought to explore the artistic process and imagination to create a multi-media response to the music and visual art of Joni Mitchell as well as the medium of sound poetry/sound art. The Sound of Art was also meant to engage the imagination of the viewer while paying homage to the great sound artists who have come before. This project encourages all of us to explore the playfulness of the artistic process and to listen for the sound of art.
You can see images and the video from the project on Collection
X at http://www.collectionx.museum/en/exhibition/6582.html
In its final form, the project consisted of many different
elements, including a video montage made up of a series of five-second
long sound-portraits; a large scale photo wall of images representing each
participant making their own unique sound; and a live performance of a sound
art “poem” all contributing to the make up of this interdisciplinary
performance and installation. The project was installed in the lobby of the
at
and was launched in June as part of the 2008 Luminato festival.
In developing this project the members of the Youth Council,
guided by Nobuo Kubota, learned about the history of sound art and then started
exploring how to make sounds. The hardest part was letting go of shyness and
expectations and giving in to the process of making sounds. We quickly took the
plunge and began making sounds with no pretentions, shyness or expectations,
embracing the playfulness and the possibilities existent in sound.
We then proceeded to explore how sounds could be mapped in
other media beginning with photography. These photographs were then installed
on a wall, becoming a set of instructions for a sound poem. Working with
filmmaker Dagny Thompson we then recorded a series of sound clips, based on the
sound “ka-chung”, but pushing much further to make many other sounds. We then
weaved these clips together to create another sound poem that started from the
same basic unit but that used the process of filmmaking to reach our final
product.
The third element of our project was a live performance that
sought to include and invite the audience to join in to create a collaborative
sound poem. We also created a mini zine with instructions for the performance as
a way to have at least a few curious audience members become engaged in the
project. Following the touch of the pre-designated youth council members
assigned with the role of “Ka-chungs”, we began to make sounds, heading towards
the area where the photographs were displayed, bringing audience members with
us and encouraging them to join in. We then made a circle, building up the
sound to a peak followed by a sudden stop. Despite many people being unfamiliar
with the performance the process worked quite well and there was plenty of
participation. The event itself also featured delicious foods, all which made
noise when eaten, and music by DJ Daniel Wilson.