AMPLIFIED TWISTER BALLOON
For decades rock guitar players, the overwhelming majority whom have been male, have both mauled and caressed the hour-glass “female” form of the electric guitar to generate virtuosic solos. I counter this idea with a virtuosic performance on my penis-shaped (and colored) Twister balloon. The “Twister” balloon is a long dirigible-shaped balloon commonly “twisted” to make balloon animals. In my case, I have found that it is also a beautiful musical instrument, a dirigible-shaped string that can yield harmonics at equal ratios similar to a bugle or digeridoo, augmented microtonally by the natural curvature and malleable surface. In shape this sonic sculpture also harkens back to my initial artistic inspiration, the latex condom as a life-saving device.
I developed this new instrument in 2015 using a custom pickup made by Lianne Morrisette of Cold Gold Audio. Since then, I have performed the piece widely throughout North America and Europe as part of my solo presentation. Below is video from a live performance at the aptly named Interpenetration series in Graz, Austria from 2016.
I developed this new instrument in 2015 using a custom pickup made by Lianne Morrisette of Cold Gold Audio. Since then, I have performed the piece widely throughout North America and Europe as part of my solo presentation. Below is video from a live performance at the aptly named Interpenetration series in Graz, Austria from 2016.