11.03 Sonic Arts Workshop References

This page includes resources and links from Bob Drake’s Sonic Arts Workshop ¹ in the fall 2023 Time Based Strategies course in the Sculpture + Expanded Media Department  at the Cleveland Institute of Art  .

Listening

John Cage

Christine Sun Kim 

Pauline Oliveros

Example Videos - autonomous / indeterminate sculptures

Anne-f Jacques’s  sound constructions/performances

• Matières en suspension: https://vimeo.com/295939586  (installation)
• quelques lentes patentes: https://vimeo.com/294635305  (sculpture sketches)
• Audiograft 2016: https://vimeo.com/175714054  (performance)
• Les Transformables v.103 - https://vimeo.com/178374566  (installation/performance)
• Mechanical Music – VNM Festival 2016: https://vimeo.com/200082976  (performance)

Petr Válek’s  extreme noise

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-D9ofCURUk  (wall sculpture)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLZcWX-0nAM  (sculpture)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wLpRpuKVVc  (sculpture w/ zither)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wgmlZH3UPU  (sculpture/instrument)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGrJBnpq830  (sculpture)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDH4D6ombV0  (sculpture)

Techniques

Tones vs. Noises

• Abrasive “noisy” sound
  • Friction/resistance
  • Scraping
  • Softer (cardboard) or irregular (sandpaper, rough rock) surfaces on object
• Tonal
  • Striking, percussive, or vibration activation
  • Harder materials – metal, ceramic, hardwood
  • Suspend objects to allow for freer vibration (foam, rubber, string).

Resonant Objects/Chambers

• Increase volume of small sounds by mounting on a larger plate
• Increase resonance by suspending objects, so they are freer to vibrate
• Increase & modify the sound by mounting on container with an opening

Simple Machines

• Change rotary motion to linear using cams, cranks, levers ²

Loose Coupling

Introduce irregularity / indeterminacy to motion

• Non-rigid parts like string, rubber bands
• Loose-fitting or “sloppy” connections
• Eccentric weighted motor-driven parts
• Freely moving objects reacting to motor-driven movement (stirring marbles in a bowl)

Further Reading

• Deep Listening Institute 
• Ruben Museum intro to Sonic Meditations