hello friends in all parts of the world
i hope you don't mind me
getting in touch, but there are a few projects running that i have been
a part of that you may like to read about.
i'd like to say before i
start, if there is anyone who does not wish to receive updates from me,
please let me know and i'll take your name off the list.
so,
first up is a show i put together for simon hampson of symbiosis on
overlap.org. simon invited me to compile a show for the symbiosis
podcast. the piece i composed is almost a retrospective of the last
four years, with sounds from all the countries i have been fortunate
enough to visit, and there are some exclusive sounds in there too.
and you can subscribe via iTunes at:
http://www.itunes.com/podcast?id=317959709
next topic, 'urban sound stories', a project curated by gruenrekorder (
http://www.gruenrekorder.de/).
for the 15th edition of their series, “curated by”, austrian radio
station kunstradio invited gruenrekorder to propose a project – the
result is "urban sound
stories”, including new sound works by Simon Whetham, Tobias Bolt, Eric
Cordier, Lasse-Marc Riek and Roland Etzin.
five sound artists explore eight places each, in five different cities
– using the means of phonography and photography. the exploration of
artificial and natural space within the city takes place within the
same space of time.
for more information, and to hear the pieces, please visit this link:
http://www.gruenrekorder.de/?page_id=749
i
was also invited to submit ice related recordings for a piece
highlighting climate change by maile colbert. the 'tree hugger project'
is the work of artists wiktor szostalo and agnieszka gardzik
.
some information regarding the project:
In conjunction with sound
recordings from sound artist and phonographer Simon Whertham, composer
Michal Szostalo and sound artist Maile Colbert have collaborated to
produce a multi-media, interactive performance with the Tree Hugger
Project for the 2009 UN Climate Conference.
The composition will be primarily based on sonic symbols dealing with
the issue of climate change, and it’s unknown but surely devastating
effect. Recordings of ice flow, melt, crashes of ice banks and burgs,
crashes of old growth trees falling, whale song and various underwater
life, the sound of the atmosphere and magnetosphere itself
changing…these recordings are part of a sonic landscape that is
disappearing. Layered upon the backbone of a brass band funeral march
composed by Michal Szostalo, the hope is to provoke thoughts of a world
we may enter if we do not take it upon ourselves to act now.
The sculptures will be fitted with sensors that will react to the
proximity of the audience, serving to remind us of the effect of our
even most delicate treading upon the earth. The sounds emitted from
the “tree huggers” when the sensor is activated will also effect at
random the composition being performed by the sound artists, serving to
remind us of our interconnectivity with all around us.please visit:
http://www.treehuggerproject.com/#and:
http://staalplaat.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/1-3-oktober-who-is-afraid-of-activism-maile-colbert-and-the-tree-hugger-project-a-dkfrf-special/
another
incredible project i was invited to be part of is 'resistance', and i
want to thank liz crow for asking me to be part of it. i assisted with
the sound design of a vocal piece that concludes the experience, and
working closely with liz, became very aware of how marginalised the
disabled are, even today...
'We begin in September 1939 when Hitler authorised Aktion-T4, a
programme of mass-murder that targeted disabled people and became the
blueprint for the Final Solution to wipe out Jews, gay people, gypsies
and other social groups. Incarcerated in institutions, it was close to
impossible for disabled people to resist – yet some did…
We move to today, where rising hate crime, increased pre-natal
screening and abortion and a race to assisted suicide challenge the
worth of disabled people’s lives and even their right to exist. We look
at how, even when we want to put things right, it can be hard to know
where to begin.
Resistance immerses you in a landscape of drama and documentary film
and audio-visual ‘whispering’ voices, inviting you to reflect on the
values of the past and on to the present where you, the individual, can
help shape things to come. And we say: If you could do just one thing.'
http://www.roaring-girl.com/projects/resistance
and
finally, i exhibited a show called 'active crossover', initiated by my
participating as artist-in-residence at the polymer factory
culturehouse, tallinn, estonia in may 2009. during my reisdency i met
and worked with a number of fantastic and inspirational artists,
created new work, performed in estonia and latvia and ran listening and
compositional workshops.
in october i installed a sound exhibition in the arnolfini dark studio, bristol, uk.
'
With
Active Crossover, (Simon) has created an immersive sound installation utilizing two
sonic chambers, but allowing for controlled sound-bleed between spaces. An
ongoing collaborative project which investigates community, place and cultural
exchange, it is constituted of two parts: a composition
created while Simon was artist-in-residence at the Art Container in Tallinn, Estonia, interacting with pieces by artists and new friends Simon collaborated and
performed with during the residency.'
i
also curated two performance evenings as part of the exhibition which
featured john grzinich, makim shentelev, jez riley french, douglas
benford, iris garrelfs, alexander thomas, joined by wire and silver
stairs of ketchikan.
for more information please visit:
www.activecrossover.co.uk
i
think that's it, apart from to mention the available released work
below, and also upcoming releases through install and mystery sea.
thanks for your time and my very best regards to you all.
simon
Simon Whetham
www.simonwhetham.co.uk
www.myspace.com/simonwhetham
www.activecrossover.co.uk
out now:
'Undercurrent' released by Slightly Off Kilter
'D/R' released by 1000füssler
'Quiet Please' released by Lens Records
'Fractures' released by entr'acte
'Ratcha Anachak Thai' released by Con-V