© Laura J Gerlach
www.laurajphotography.de
Sculptor and New Media installation artist Michelle Jaffé creates time-based experiential, immersive works at the intersection of sculpture, sound, video and performance. Sound is the connective tissue of her work since 2003. Jaffé sculpts sound in space, through cutting edge programing in SuperCollider, Reaper, Max & speaker technologies of Holosonic & Wave Field Synthesis and geo-location through NOUS Sonic App, Cellular Data and UWB. She works with sound to expand sculptural experience, as a gestalt to forge new neural connections, by engaging mind, body & limbic brain simultaneously. Her work unpacks multivalent layers of patriarchal injustice; examining the yoke of familial, social and political dysfunction, under which many suffer the tyranny of the few.
Seminal influences: at a young age, Jaffé was transported by the immensity of Stanley Kubrick’s vision for “2001”: powerful images paired with compelling sound design. Other influences are LaMonte Young's "Well Tuned Piano" where overtones hang in the air as cumulative vibrational mass; and experiencing the physical, disorienting effect of Richard Serra’s “Tilted Arcs”. Jaffé shares a sensibility for scale with Jackson Pollock and a sense for the comedic and the theatrical with Oskar Schlemmer, Robert Wilson and Pina Bausch.
Jaffé has exhibited at The New Media Gallery, Vancouver, Beall Center for Art + Technology, UC Irvine, Duke University Power Plant Gallery, Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, Grand Rapids, Harvestworks Digital Media on Govenor's Island, WhiteBox, New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, Milton Art Bank, PA, Morlan Gallery at Transylvania University, Lexington, KY and solo shows in New York City at 11 Rivington, Bosi Contemporary, Culture Lab LIC, Wald & Po Kim Foundation, Susan Berko-Conde Gallery.
Jaffé was awarded a New Works residency grant from Harvestworks Digital Media in 2023, has been awarded 4 Individual Artist grants from NYSCA, 4 QAF grants from Queens Council on the Arts and is a 4 time fiscally sponsored artist of NYFA and has been a panelist for NYSCA.
Jaffé was Artist-in-Residence to the Computer Music Department at Brooklyn College and has been awarded residencies at the MacDowell Colony and Djerassi, The Exchange Museum and The Newlyn Gallery in England.
For Jaffé's iconic work Wappen Field, 12 chrome plated steel helmets, LED’s, vocal composition and SuperCollider are deployed to create an enveloping sonic installation. Poet Douglas Crase has said “Whether in the immersive dimensions of Wappen Field or the exquisite chamber work Awakening, (an experiential light and soundscape recorded at Walter De Maria’s Lightning Field), she has opened apertures on the sublime which render it visible, audible, and imminent.”
Video work, “Tea with Estelle” is in the museum collection of Listasafn Islands National Gallery of Iceland. Jaffé has 30 accessory design works in the permanent collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology and Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
Michelle Jaffé
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025 NYU 370 Audio Lab, GRIFTER’s Gambit work-in-progress, New York, NY
2024 Culture Lab LIC, Wappen Field, Behind the Mask: The Art of Women Welders, curator Tess Howsam, Long Island City, NY
Jaffé Open Studio, GRIFTER’s Gambit, NYSCA New Media grant, work-in-progress
2023 Harvestworks Digital Media, Governor's Island, LocaleS3, Harvestworks New Works Residency grant
2021 11 Rivington, Murmur/Mutter/Yell, NYSCA New Media grant, work-in-progress Sound installation
2019 WhiteBox, Soul Junk, Differing Facets in our Distinct Futures, 3-Person show by Lara Pan, NY
2017 Milton Art Bank, Milton, PA, Soul Junk, 3 Channel Video & Sound installation
2016 New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, Soul Junk, Abrons Arts Center, NY
2015 Transylvania University, Home and Field: Digital Explorations of Community, (Wappen Field) Lexington, KY
2014 Valentine Gallery, Neural, (Queens Arts Council, QAF), Work-in-Progress, Ridgewood, NY
2013 Valentine Gallery, Neural: Cleave, (QAF grant), Work-in-Progress, Ridgewood, NY
2012 Bosi Contemporary, Wappen Field, NY
Bushwick Open Studios 2012, Wappen Field, NY
Queens Art Express 2012, Queens Council on the Arts, Wappen Field, NY
Sylvia Wald & Po Kim Art Gallery, Non-Profit Foundation, Awakening, NY, NY
2011 Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, Wappen Field, Grand Rapids, MI
Park Avenue Armory, Shen Wei Dance Residency, Watusi Regime, NY
2010 Susan Berko-Conde Gallery/E.M Berko Archive, New Work, NY, NY
2008 Broadway Gallery, Malka Lubelski Foundation, Wappen Field: Work In Progress
Djerassi, Bed of Nails, Iraq 4000, Site-Specific Installation, Woodside, CA
Site Specific Installation, PS1’s Backside, Long Island City, NY
2005 Brooklyn College, The Booth Project, Sound Installation, Electro-Acoustic Festival, NY
2004 150 m3 Largus, Austellungs und Projektraum, Two Chicks From New York, Cologne, Germany
Susan Conde Gallery, Vestments: New Sculpture, NY
2002 Alison Bradley Salon, New Work, NY
Harvestworks Digital Media Arts Center, Vestment, Sound Sculpture, NY
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Museum Wilhelm Morgner, in RAUM SCHROTH, “Hellweg Konkret III: 3D. Wegweisende Plastik der konkreten Gegenwart”, (3D Pioneering Sculpture of the Concrete Present), curators Julianne Rogge & Ivo Ringe, Soest, Germany (9/8–12/1/2024), https://www.skk-soest.de/en/veranstaltung/hellweg-konkret-iii-3d/
2023 Listasafn Islands National Gallery of Iceland, museum permanent collection, gift of
Helgi Þorgils-Friðjónsson and Rakel Halldorsdottir, Reykjavík, Iceland, Tea with Estelle: Covid
Culture Lab LIC, The Inevitability of Absence, curator Tess Howsam, (GRIFTER’S Gambit, Composition 1), NY
2022 White Box, Ballots not Bullets, (Crossing the Fire Wall), New York
Van der Grinten Galerie, The Schuh Show, co-curator Ruth Marten, Cologne, Germany
2018 Artworks Advisory, Under the Parachute of Shapes & Colors, curated by Lara Pan, NY, NY
Newlyn Art Gallery, Structures Residency, Newlyn, UK
2017 New Media Gallery, Vancouver, Voicing, (Wappen Field) with Marcus Coates/ Martin Backes
Platform Art Fair Film Festival, Anyone Can Apply for the Job, New York
AptArt, A View from the Cloud, curated by Nina Colosi, Streaming Museum, New York
IUCA+D Art Gallery, Indiana University, In Conversation, curator Stephanie Buhmann, Columbus, IN
The Power Plant, Duke University, Soundings: Protest\Politics\Dissent, Durham, NC
2016 Sunview Luncheonette, curator Michael Schumacher, “Estelle” Performance, NY
Stony Brook University, NY, Fifty years of Music & Technology, From Sine Waves to Robots, perform with Phil Edelstein
The Exchange Museum, Restructured, Penzance, England
Macy Art Gallery, Teachers College, Columbia University, In Conversation, by Stephanie Buhmann, NY
2015 Bosi Contemporary, Come to Bed!, 3-Person show curated by Roya Sachs, NY
Songs For Presidents, Total Styrene--True Believer, curated by Lizzie Scott, NY
Shirley Fiterman Art Center, BMCC, In Conversation, curator: Stephanie Buhmann, NY
2014 Sylvia Wald & Po Kim Art Gallery Foundation, Painting Black, curator Ivo Ringe, NY
George Washington University, L.W. Brady Art Gallery, What Not to Wear: Women Sculptors, DC
2013 Beall Center for Art + Technology, UC Irvine, Sight & Sound, Wappen Field, Irvine, CA
Wave Hill, Tandem Pursuits: Armor & Ichthyology, New York
Stephan Stoyanov Gallery, All of Me, New York
NYFA Benefit, Wappen Field, curated by David Terry
2012 Arizona State University, Momentum: Women/Art/Technology, symposium by Muriel Magenta
1285 Avenue of the Americas Art Gallery, To be a Lady: a century of women in the arts, curated by Jason Andrew, New York
Queens Museum of Art, DisTorpia, Media series curated by Arlan Londano & Gabriel Roldos
Queens Museum of Art, Queens International 2012: Three Points Make a Triangle
Norte Maar, Bushwick Open Studios, NY
New York Foundation for the Arts, NYFA Boot Camp II Exhibition, New York
2011 Shoshana Wayne Gallery, Chain Letter, Santa Monica, CA
2010 New York Foundation for the Arts, NYFA Boot Camp Exhibition, New York
ArtWare at The Armory, New York, NY
2009 Susan Berko-Conde Gallery/E.M. Berko Archive, The Lightness of Being, New York
2008 Islip Art Museum, Fashion Forward, East Islip, NY
Lehman College Art Gallery, Informed by Function, Bronx, NY
2007 Truro Center for the Arts, Castle Hill, 10 Painters Invite 10 Others, MA
Middlebury College Museum of Art, Transparency, VT
2006 Corridor Gallery, Transparency, Reykjavik, Iceland
2006 Bellevue Biennial Sculpture Exhibition, Bellevue, WA
Victory Hall, ProArts, Beth Venn, Curator, Jersey City, NJ
Galerie Karin Sachs, Munich, Vienna Art Fair, Vienna, Austria
2005 Sacred Heart University, WetLab: The New Nexus between Art and Science, Fairfield, CT
150m3 Largus, Projektraum, Uns geht es gut und danke fur den Fisch, Cologne, Germany
2004 Islip Art Museum, Site Specifics ‘04, East Islip, NY
University of California Santa Barbara, Fracturing Fairy Tales, CA
2003 New York Studio School, Vulnerability, Bill Jensen, Curator, NY
2002 Nexus Gallery, Craig Houser, Curator, NY
Ceres Gallery, NY, Charlotta Kotik, Curator, NY
2001 Barrett Art Center, New Directions 01, Charlotta Kotik, Curator, Poughkeepsie, NY
New York Studio School, Beckoning Vision, Karen Wilkin, Curator, NY
2000 Artist’s Space, Drawing Benefit, NY
1996 New York Dharmadhatu/Shambala, Dharmic Expressions, Daniel Berlin, Curator, NY
1993 New York Studio School, Drawings, NY
1987 Museé de la Mode et du Costume, From the Museum’s Collection, Paris, France
1983 New York University, Political Art, Coosje Van Bruggen, Curator, NY
AWARDS and RESIDENCIES
2024 Foundation for Contemporary Arts, Emergency Grant for Wappen Field at Culture Lab LIC
New York State Council on the Arts, Individual Artist Grant for GRIFTER’s Gambit
2023 Queens Council on the Arts, QAF Grant for Grifter’s Gambit
New York Foundation for the Arts, Fiscal Sponsorship, Grifter’s Gambit
Harvestworks Digital Media, New Works Residency award for LocaleS3
2021 New York State Council on the Arts, Individual Artist Grant for Murmur/Mutter/Yell
2020 Queens Council on the Arts, QAF Grant for Murmur/Mutter/Yell
New York Foundation for the Arts, fiscal sponsorship for Murmur/Mutter/Yell
2018 Newlyn Art Gallery, Structure Residency, Newlyn, England
2016 The Exchange Museum, Restructured Residency at The Engine Room, Penzance, England
2014 Queens Council on the Arts, QAF Grant for Soul Junk
2013 New York Foundation for the Arts, Fiscal Sponsorship for Soul Junk
Queens Council on the Arts, QAF Grant for Neural: Cleave
2011 New York State Council on the Arts, Individual Artist Grant, Wappen Field
2010 New York Foundation for the Arts, Artist as Entrepreneur Boot Camp
2009 New York Foundation for the Arts, Education Opportunity Grant
Queens Council on the Arts, NY, Artist Leader Peer Circle
2008 New York State Council on the Arts, Individual Artist grant, Wappen Field
Queens Council on the Arts, NY, IAI, Independent Artists Initiative
New York Foundation for the Arts, Fiscal Sponsorship, Wappen Field
Djerassi Resident Artists Program, Pritzker Foundation Endowed Fellowship, Woodside, CA
2005 The MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, NH
2004 Brooklyn College, Artist-In-Residence, Department of Computer Music, Brooklyn, NY
MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
Listasafn Islands National Gallery of Iceland, Reykjavík
Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris, Paris, France
Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA, collection and archives
The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, NY, NY
SELECTED PRESS/BOOKS
2024 Queens Chronicle, “An exhibit of women’s works, forged in history”, Stephanie G. Meditz, March 21, 2024
Pix 11, Women’s history month, Women who weld: I grew up around a lot of metal, Magee Hickey, 3/7/24
2022 On Autumn Lake, The Collected Essays, Douglas Crase, 2022, Aperture on a Virtual World, p. 340-351, Nightboat Press
2019 New York Studio School, “Michelle Jaffé in conversation with Joy Episalla,” YouTube, @26:28 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0fmQH0_1dE
2017 Lines from London Terrace: Essays, Douglas Crase, 2017, Aperture on a Virtual World, p. 229-238
Brice Brown Interviews Michelle Jaffé, Soul Junk, 12/17/17, https://vimeo.com/247235694
2016 M/E/A/N/I/N/G, edited by Mira Schor & Susan Bee, Final Issue, December 17, 2016,
Gorky's Granddaughter, Video Interview November 13, 2016, http://michellejaffe.com/soul-junk
Paris Diary by Laure de Gramont, http://parisdiarybylaure.com/cornwall-old-new/#comment-1891
WBAI FM Radio Interview, State of the Arts NYC, Savona Bailey-McClain, July 1, 2016
New York Studio Conversations: 17 Women Talk About Art, Stephanie Buhmann, 2016, The Green Box, Kunst Editionen, p. 174-183
2015 News.artnet.com, “The 1 Must See Art Event in NY this Week”, 3/23/2015
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/jeffrey-deitch-and-massimiliano-gioni-in-conversation-280065
Under Main, Christine Huskisson, "To What Do We Belong", October 9, 2015
Lexington Herald-Leader, September 2015 Gallery Hop Highlights, September 17, 2015
NYFA Current, A Conversation with Artist Michelle Jaffé, Madeleine Cutrona, April 17, 2015
Bedford & Bowery, Come to Bed for some Pillow Talk with this Artist, Angelica Frey, 3/26/15
2014 Washington Post, In the galleries: Where nature and art come together, Women Sculptors, Mark Jenkins, 6/20/2014
2013 Queens Tribune, Sound Artist Visits QCA, Trisha Sakhuja, November 21, 2013
Beall Center for Art + Technology: Video Interview, Sight and Sound 10/3/2013
The New York Times, Where Medieval Armor Meets the Aquatic, Susan Hodara, 9/19/13, p. WE9
The Bronx Journal, Tandem Pursuits: Armor & Ichthyology, Alison Greaney, 12/10/2013
StephanieBuhmann.com, Interview 01, Stephanie Buhmann, January 29, 2013
2012 A Public Space, Aperture On A Virtual Field, Douglas Crase, Winter No. 17, 2012, p. 68-79
e_fagia,DisTorpia Media Series, exhibition brochure, Gabriel Roldos & Arlan Landano, p4
MacDowell Colony Bulletin, Cover, Wappen Field, Vol. 41, No 1 Summer 2012
NY Arts, 3rd Generation, from Rome to LES, by Sandro Bosi, July 25, 2012
World Sculpture News, Awakening by Michelle Jaffé, by Robert C. Morgan, Hong Kong
New York Culture Beat, Awakening by Michelle Jaffé & "Visitors" by Heather Sheehan, Suki Park, March 20, 2012, http://www.nyculturebeat.com/index.php?mid=Art&document_srl=36831
Wall Street Journal, Arts Scene Sprouts in Ridgewood, Queens, Kavita Mokha, 1/27/2012, p. A20
2011 The Profitable Artist, edited by Peter Cobb, Susan Ball, Felicity Hogan, NYFA, p 212, p 218
Grand Rapids Press, UICA exhibit embodies ArtPrize, Joseph Becherer, 9/27/11, p. A7
Fox 17 News, Grand Rapids, Live Interview: Wappen Field, 9/19/11
Grand Rapids Press, GVSU ArtPrize Project, UICA review, Dale Johnson, 10/3/11
http://blog.mlive.com/artprize/print.html?entry=/2011/10/gvsu_artprize_project_uica.html
Grand Rapids Press, GVSU ArtPrize Project, review of UICA works, Jessica Smith, 10/8/11
https://www.mlive.com/artprize/2011/10/gvsu_artprize_project_review_of_uica_works.html
Grand Rapids Press, Photo Opening Night UICA, 9/21/11, http://photos.mlive.com/grandrapidspress/2011/10/first_night_of_artprize_crowds_9.html
Yahoo News, Crowds Check Out Michelle Jaffé’s ArtPrize Entry Wappen Field (photo)
USA Today, ArtPrize draws Wild, wonderful works to Grand Rapids, October 2011
Channel 13 Grand Rapids, Jessica Puchala, 9/27/11, http://grcentral.wzzm13.com/news/news/62070-uica-home-helmet-artprize-entry
Rutgers University, Mason Gross Gallery, Momentum: Women/Art/Technology,
http://www.momentum-women-art-technology.com/jaffe.htm
Art Experience NYC, On Notice, Beyond Art Galleries, Claire Lieberman, Vol 1, No 4 Fall 2011, p 16-33, online magazine
Art Experience NYC, When Bad is Good, Creativity and the Downturn, Claire Lieberman, Vol 1, No 3 Summer 2011, p 19-37, online magazine
2010 The New York Times, Canterbury Tales in Staten Island and Other Budget Fun, November 4
California Home & Design, Fjord Collection, April 2010
New York Spaces, Fjord Collection, March 2010
The Denver Post, In House: Heartfelt Housewares, February 27, 2010
The New York Times, Bowls That Could Double as Hats, Elaine Louie, February 4, 2010, D3
2009 Walrus, The Whole Story, Helen Humphreys, April 2009, p.48-51
The New York Times, Where Fashion Meets Its Artistic Match, Benjamin Genocchio, LI edition, January 8, 2009
2008 New York Arts Magazine online, The Seen and Unseen, Milton Fletcher, November 2008
Newsday, Clothes calls: What the artists are saying, Steve Parks, November 28, 2008, p. B22
The Suffolk County News, Assorted apparel tapered as art, Tinamarie Caputo, 12/18/2008, p. 13
Islip Bulletin, Assorted apparel tapered as art, Tinamarie Caputo, December 11, 2008, p.12
New York Arts Magazine online, The Seen and Unseen, Milton Fletcher, November 2008
2006 2006 Bellevue Biennial Sculpture Exhibition, Interview with the Artists, Podcast, WA, August 2006
City of Bellevue TV, It’s Your City, 2006 Bellevue Biennial Sculpture Exhibition, WA, 7/2006
2005 Four Seasons, Forbes Publishing, The Home Collection, Brook S. Mason, December 2005, p. 124
2004 The New York Times, Site Specifics ‘04, Helen Harrison, July 11, 2004, p. 11, LI edition
Islip Art Museum, Site Specifics ‘04, Karen Shaw
EXHIBITIONS CURATED by Michelle Jaffé
Voices of Anxious Objects, Ken Butler performs at Tibor de Nagy Gallery, NY, 2019
Soul Junk Live, Music performed by Joshua Fried, Dafna Naftali, Hans Tammen, Milton Art Bank, 2017
Correspondences, Tibor de Nagy, New York, NY, 2017
PS1’s Backside, Chris Coffin, Kristine Robinson, Chris Walsh, Michelle Jaffé, Long Island City, NY, 2008
TALKS, CRITS, TEACHING
2024
Dr. Jill H. Casid in conversation with Michelle Jaffé about Wappen Field, 1 hour Video Recording
NYSCA Panelist for Disputed Individual Artist Grants
2022
Arts Center Capital Region, NY, Co-lead NYSCA Immersive Art & Technology weekend seminar with Seth Cluett
Arts Center Capital Region, NY, Critical Forum
2021
Lara Pan moderates Panel Talk about Murmur/Mutter/Yell with Jaffé, Carol Parkinson, Sergio Krakowski & Ak2deru
NYSCA Panelist for Individual Artist Grant
Wonsook Kim School of Art at Illinois State University, Visiting Artist at invitation of Claire Lieberman
ArtBox DMV Podcast, Jason T. Edwards interviews Michelle Jaffé, WERA 96.7 FM, Episode #52
Arts Center Capital Region, NY, Critical Forum
2020
Dr. Jill H. Casid in conversation with Michelle Jaffé about Murmur/Mutter/Yell, 1 hour Video Recording
Columbia University MFA, Conversation with Michelle Jaffé, Teacher Susanna Coffey
Arts Center Capital Region, NY, Critical Forum
2019
New York Studio School, In Conversation with Joy Episalla, Artist Talk, NY
Arts Center Capital Region, NY, Critical Forum
2017
Leonardo, Laser Talk, NY, Creative Tech Week, LISA-Leaders in Software & Art, with Zachary Kaplan, Ursula Endlicher
2016
Queens Council on the Arts, Exhibitions & Representation for Artists, with Valerie McKenzie & Nico Wheadon
Stony Brook University, 50th Anniversary of Experiments in Art & Technology, cDACT, Moderator: Margaret Schedel
Creative Tech Week, LISA-Leaders in Software & Art, Expert Talk on My Work, NY
2015
Leonardo, Laser Talk, invited by Ellen Levy & Patricia Olynyk, New York
2013
Queens Council on the Arts, Third Space, Marta Jovanovic interviews Michelle Jaffé
2011-14
Queens Council on the Arts, Artist Leader Peer Circle & LEAP Program, New York
2010
NYFA, Ambitious Art Projects and How to Make Them Happen: Four Artists’ Stories
NYFA, 12 Artists Present, Salon by Catherine Eaton, Roger Smith Hotel, New York
QMAD at Crossing Art, A-Lab Forum: Artivism, Curator: Hector Canonge, New York
VIDEO INTERVIEWS
2021 Michelle Jaffé interviews assume vivid astro focus, Hairy What, Hairy How? Tibor de Nagy Gallery, NY
2019 Connie Lewallen reads from Bill Berkson's A Frank O'Hara Notebook, Tibor de Nagy Gallery, NY
Ken Butler performs Voices of Anxious Objects at Tibor de Nagy Gallery, NY
2018 Sir Nicholas Serota in Memory of Malcom Morley
Douglas Crase reads his poetry from The Revisionist & The Astropastorals
A Conversation amongst Artists Delia Brown, Inka Essenhigh, Hilary Harkness, Critic Sarah Rodriguez, June 9, Tibor de Nagy Gallery, NY
Douglas Crase reads at St. Mark’s Poetry Project, May 9, New York
Heather Sheehan reads from An Unfinished Novel, excerpt For Dieter, February 20, 2018
2017 Brice Brown of Milton Art Bank interviews Michelle Jaffé about Soul Junk, November
Michelle Jaffé interviews artist Brice Brown why he created nonprofit Milton Art Bank
Soul Junk Live at Milton Art Bank, Joshua Fried, Hans Tammen, Dafna Naftali
Shirley Jaffe, Artist Memorial at Tibor de Nagy Gallery, NY
EDUCATION
2002 Harvestworks Digital Media Arts Center, NY, Certificate
1995 Fashion Institute of Technology, NY, Associates-Jewelry Making
1992 New York Studio School, NY, Sculpture & Drawing
1991 Sculpture Center School, NY, Stone Carving
1979 University of East Anglia, Norwich, England, BA Honours, Fine Arts and French Literature
Dissertation: Henri Michaux: Un Poete Peintre Nietzchien (A Nietzchian Poet Painter)
Like the canary in the coal mine, I alert people to psychologically hazardous conditions. My interdisciplinary sculpture, sound and video installations present complex experiential propositions. Each medium serves the whole to create a unified realm greater than the sum of its parts. To enter it, can increase awareness of the volatile structures percolating in the underbelly of society, illuminating alternative pathways where new neural connections can forge positive change.
From 2000, my work probes the psychic and architectural housing of clothing that serve as protective shields. Armored behind a logo or curated style, we proclaim the desire to belong and the fear of the other. Sculpting volume out of aluminum, steel, nylon and vinyl with a precise economy of line, I explored these themes in the series Vestments (2000-2004) and Cod Variations (2005-2007). The archetypal shapes reflected how we signal community to the group, family, team, tribe or religious order we identify with.
Since 2003, I have woven sound into installation using innovative speaker technologies. The resulting 3-dimensional experience punctures rational and linguistic defenses, engaging mind & body simultaneously. WAPPEN FIELD (2003-2015) is a participatory sculpture installation. A confrontational phalanx of 12 chrome plated steel helmets recruit visitors to enter and hear a 27-minute vocal composition through SuperCollider programming. Each helmet is a resonant chamber, where their dedicated speakers transform the sculptural installation into an immersive audio environment.
SOUL JUNK (2013-2019) is an experiential 3-channel audio/video installation. We are placed inside a female mind contemplating love, family trauma and attitudes of those in power, to witness stream of consciousness synaptic firing in the brain. Video is projected onto sculptural materials, creating fractured images. Audio spotlight speakers focus sound physically & aurally. We walk in and out of their beams. Speaker/projections triangulate. Standing where the focused beam of two speakers cross, we hear opposing narratives. Hurled against one another in rapid fire, they echo the information overload of our times. Conversely, standing further away from a source, we hear its singular voice more acutely. Ultimately, we experience both the hive & the clarity of one.
MURMUR / MUTTER / YELL (M/M/Y 2019 - ) sound and light installation, employs Wave Field Synthesis speakers to sculpt the 35 minute vocal composition dynamically in space. The libretto creates a dreamlike conversation between the conscious & subconscious mind as it processes the implications of private data mined every time we click 'Agree'. The experience is designed to attenuate how we, the raw material of 21st century colonization, are ripe for manipulation. M/M/Y highlights the powerful forces at work in the dark matter of connectivity.