Issue #7

issue #7 Try to move Without making any sound. Is it possible? Which is the quietest sound of your body? … Lead your ears away from your own sounds and listen to the sounds nearby. What do you hear? ( issue #7 Try to move Without making any sound. Is it possible? Which is the quietest sound of your body? … Lead your ears away from your own sounds and listen to the sounds nearby. What do you hear? (Make a list) … Can you detect Interesting rhythms Regular beats The highest The lowest pitch. Do you hear any Intermittent or discrete sounds Rustles Bangs Swishes Thuds What are the sources of the different sounds? What else do you hear? What else do you hear? Other people Nature sounds Mechanical sounds … Lead your ears away from these sounds and listen beyond-----into the distance. What is the quietest sound? What else do you hear? What else? What else? —Hildegard Westerkamp - soundwalk exercise Something I made Public Works as Public Art Washington Park TriMet Max Station Continuing with my on-going project, Public Works as Public Art, I’ve created this piece for the Washington Park TriMet Max Station. This particular station has intrigued me since the day I first set foot in it over 14 years ago on my first visit to Portland. Situated around 260ft below sea level, this platform has an eerie hollow quiet to it. It’s unsettling and heavy. Despite the intentional geological theme/design of the space (A geological timeline—created from a drilling core sample—runs along the platform walls), there’s no attention to the way the space sounds and therefore feels. Blending the sounds of native bird and insect species, some of which were recorded in Washington Park, with an ambient mix of overlapping bell-like tones, the sound is designed to maintain the otherworldly and liminal quality of the space, but moving it away from foreboding and heavy, and towards a meditative, soft and calming experience. The sounds of native species connect you to the park situated 260ft above where you wait and either welcome you upon arrival, or see you off. You can listen to other works that are a part of the Public Works as Public Art series, HERE Some things I’m listening to Low Secret Name Song: Weight of Water Low The Great Destroyer Song: When I Go Deaf Low C’mon Song: Nothing But Heart Something I’m feeling The band Low has been a steady favorite of mine since I first heard their album Secret Name back around 2007. The album was released in 1999, and along with introducing me to a new favorite band, it also introduced me to my recording idol, Steve Albini. Their music and the space around it resonated so deeply with me, that it became a cornerstone of my musical and artistic identity, as well as a safe place to rest in hard times. I’d never heard anything before that was so slow, minimal and quiet, and at the very same time, heavy and extraordinarily compelling. The music that came from this band reflected something back to me about myself, but also about other people. Their music made me feel less alone in my experience as a human on this planet, it made me feel like others out there felt similarly to me, the magic of music or any great art. I grew up only ever hearing classic rock and grunge music on the radio, and Low felt so fundamentally different and so aligned with my tastes and personality. An integral part of the connection I formed to Low was the voice and drumming of Mimi Parker, the steady soft edge. Her and her husband Alan Sparhawk are the main members of the band, they are Low. Mimi died on November 5th, 2022 of ovarian cancer. I feel really grieved by the loss of her, but also my heart fills with such immense gratitude that she walked this planet and made music that has been a definite refuge for me and so many others. If you feel so inclined, please give a listen to Low. RIP Mimi Parker Prev / Next You must select a collection to display.