AERONAUT
a sound installation by Judy Dunaway
part of the
Harvestworks "New Waves in Art and Tech" Exhibition
Building 10A, Nolan Park
Governors Island, NYC
Fri/Sat/Sun 11:30am-4pm
May 17 - August 18, 2024
Artist talk about installation:
- Saturday, June 15 at 2:45pm (as part of Governors Island "Third Saturdays" events)
- also Sunday, June 16 at 2:45pm
This site-specific sound installation commemorates pioneer daredevil aviator Charles K. (“Charlie”) Hamilton making the first round trip flight between New York City and Philadelphia on June 13, 1910, taking off from and returning to Governors Island. Hamilton was, in the words of the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, "known for his dangerous dives, spectacular crashes, and extensive reconstructive surgeries.” Hamilton survived more than 60 crashes, but ultimately died an early death at age 28 as the cumulative result of his injuries.
The installation works with the themes of air, floating and simple motorized devices featuring inflated latex balloons as sound conduits. In the "Floating" sound sculptures, donut-shaped latex balloons located both in the secret inner stairwell (pictured above) and the pantry room naturally amplify low frequencies made by motors hidden in the center (no speakers or external sound sources are used). Invisible patterns of sound intensity create silent acoustic “holes” in the pantry room, reflecting the visual image. Meanwhile, the artist will contribute daily to her “tapestry” of twister balloons in colors that reflect on the life of “aeronaut” Charles Hamilton ("Balloon Tapestry with the Sound of Its Own Making - Tribute to Robert Morris) (pictured below). The sound of the making of the tapestry, along with any ancillary sounds, will be recorded. When the activity is not happening, the tapestry, in its ongoing state, will be displayed in the room and the recording will be played back, both as a documentation of the ongoing process. As the audio library increases, the balloon tapestries will slowly disintegrate.
Balloon tapestry sound action will typically occur between noon and 2pm each day of the exhibition.
Harvestworks "New Waves in Art and Tech" Exhibition
Building 10A, Nolan Park
Governors Island, NYC
Fri/Sat/Sun 11:30am-4pm
May 17 - August 18, 2024
Artist talk about installation:
- Saturday, June 15 at 2:45pm (as part of Governors Island "Third Saturdays" events)
- also Sunday, June 16 at 2:45pm
This site-specific sound installation commemorates pioneer daredevil aviator Charles K. (“Charlie”) Hamilton making the first round trip flight between New York City and Philadelphia on June 13, 1910, taking off from and returning to Governors Island. Hamilton was, in the words of the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, "known for his dangerous dives, spectacular crashes, and extensive reconstructive surgeries.” Hamilton survived more than 60 crashes, but ultimately died an early death at age 28 as the cumulative result of his injuries.
The installation works with the themes of air, floating and simple motorized devices featuring inflated latex balloons as sound conduits. In the "Floating" sound sculptures, donut-shaped latex balloons located both in the secret inner stairwell (pictured above) and the pantry room naturally amplify low frequencies made by motors hidden in the center (no speakers or external sound sources are used). Invisible patterns of sound intensity create silent acoustic “holes” in the pantry room, reflecting the visual image. Meanwhile, the artist will contribute daily to her “tapestry” of twister balloons in colors that reflect on the life of “aeronaut” Charles Hamilton ("Balloon Tapestry with the Sound of Its Own Making - Tribute to Robert Morris) (pictured below). The sound of the making of the tapestry, along with any ancillary sounds, will be recorded. When the activity is not happening, the tapestry, in its ongoing state, will be displayed in the room and the recording will be played back, both as a documentation of the ongoing process. As the audio library increases, the balloon tapestries will slowly disintegrate.
Balloon tapestry sound action will typically occur between noon and 2pm each day of the exhibition.
