Invitation to Participate – Send Your Sounds

You are invited to create and send two short sonic snapshots that will become threads in “Absorb”, an art experiment by Canadian composer Tina Pearson, with dancer Lori Hamar and videographer Kirk Schwartz. “Absorb” will be presented as part of the Interchange Digital Art Symposium at Media Net in Victoria, BC (unceded Lekwungen territory) Canada, October 7 – 15, 2015. A realization of “Absorb” will also occur within networked “virtual” platform Second Life.

“Absorb” is an attempt to reconcile an essence of presence in the seemingly disconnected realms of technology and the biosphere. The project poses a set of questions about intimacy, memory and artistic relationships within personal ecosystems, and how those relationships might be alternately illuminated by and informed by the tethering of their representation in digital and networked media.

More information about “Absorb”: https://tina-pearson.com/this/absorb/

Anyone who can follow the SCORE instructions (below) to record and upload their simple breath and voice sounds, is invited to participate. Two sonic snapshots are invited, each a minimum of 1 minute, and a maximum of 4 minutes in duration. Each should take 8 – 12 minutes to make.

Carried on Your Winds (breath) contributions will be mixed to create sonic winds in the installation space, while Flowing on Your Tongues (voice) contributions will be combined to create an audio water-like stream. Sounds are needed by September 24, 2016.

SCORES FOR SONIC SNAPSHOTS

(You can choose to complete and send one or both.)

1. Carried On Your Winds

i) After being outside and listening in detail to the sounds of the wind as it moves (through) any trees, bushes, and grasses; and/or over any rocks, sands, and waters of your current ecosystem; or after recalling in detail these sounds in your current or a favourite ecosystem;

ii) Imagine the sound of these winds as if they were filtered through the extended shape of your given name, in a memory of you.

iii) Record your breath and your mouth making this imagined wind name sound, as accurately as possible for a duration of 1-4 minutes.

Let the sound be however it is as you imagine these winds carrying your name … whether extended, continuous, short, in bursts, gusty, gentle, strong, dynamic, howling, slow, fierce …

2. Flowing on Your Tongues

i) Contemplate the reality of one your great-grandparents, near the waters of the lands where they might have resided. Imagine the sound of their voice, in what their primary blood language might be or how you imagine it might have sounded. (It’s okay if you haven’t met and/or don’t know the exact origin or lands of this great grandparent; or if you don’t know their particular language or dialect. Let your imagination find a thread, a trace.)

ii) Imagine this great grandparent voicing, in speech, vocal sounds, or song, a story directly to you from their time and place, as if they know you are listening now. Let your imagination allow any sounds needed to create the story: whether they include a discernible language, an indiscernible language, non-verbal vocalizations, singing, humming — any sounds or combinations that come as you imagine traces your great- grandparent’s voice.

iii) Record yourself voicing your great grandparent story or song as accurately as possible, for a duration of 1-4 minutes. Let the sound be however it needs to be, whether gentle or strong, intermittent or continuous, fierce or calm …

Recording: For breath and voice sounds, it is best to not blow directly into the microphone, and to keep enough distance so the sound does not distort. Preferred: WAV or AIFF files made from an audio recorder. If you only have access to a recording application your phone or computer, please choose WAV or AIFF format if available. If not, please choose MP4.

Usage: Each sonic snapshot received will be listened to, and treated with care and respect. The sonic snapshots received will be combined with others and with field recordings to form a sonic wind and a sonic stream. These sounds will become part of the “Absorb” audio and video installation, and an environment in the networked platform Second Life. Once mixed into the work, individual snapshots will not be easily identifiable. Individual snapshots received will not be shared or used in any other way except in editions of “Absorb”. Each contributor will receive a link to an audio mix that contains their submission.

Credit: General credit for all sounds received will appear in “Absorb” project documentation whenever possible, such as in the installation’s program guide, on a project blog page, and on signage in Second Life.

HOW TO SUBMIT:

Please send sound files as email attachments to

<biosphericartpractice@gmail.com>

As the subject line, please use your name followed by the word “Absorb”, such as: Darlene Lee “Absorb”.

In the email, include

—Your Name

—Location of Recording (neighbourhood, place, town, country), and imagined or recalled location(s).

—Date and Time of Recording

Please send files before midnight your local time September 24, 2016.

The small print: By sending your sound files and email, you are confirming that your original audio recording was made by you, that you have full rights to its use, and that you  give permission to Tina Pearson to use the file in her work “Absorb” which will be presented in public October 2016, and within the networked environment Second Life and may be used in future variations of the work. You understand that Tina Pearson, Media Net and other presenters have no control over unknown downloads and uses the audio from Absorb, that may include your contribution.

thank you!