LISTEN EDGEMAR
A 16-channel sound installation created for the parking garage of Edgemar, Santa Monica CA. Designed in 1984 by Frank Gehry, commissioned by Abby Sher. A co-composition with Michael Zbyszynski. Opened in 2003, still plays daily from 8am-11pm. Now entering its 13th year of continuously evolving soundscape!
The installation is connected to the ebb and flow of tides at the nearby Santa Monica Municipal Pier. High and low tides throughout the day are marked by dramatic episodes swirling through the live acoustical space. Each high tide brings in a few new pieces of 'sonic driftwood', short snippets of sound that are dropped into cyclonic rings, slowly rotating through the space, repeating at irregular intervals. The result is a raindrop smattering soundscape, constantly familiar yet constantly cycling. Each low tide washes away a few sounds, so that over time the materials are replenished like so much coastline flotsam and jetsam. The sonic driftwood consists of sounds recorded around the site, with the addition of instrumental materials provided by Jesse Catron, Paul Livingstone, Pauline Oliveros, Jeremy Drake, Philip Gelb and Vinny Golia.
The installation can be heard daily from 8am–11pm in the subterranean level of the parking garage. Edgemar is at 2415 Main St. in Santa Monica, south of Pico, north of Lincoln.
Press: Los Angeles Times (paywall, see below for PDF), New York Arts.
The installation is connected to the ebb and flow of tides at the nearby Santa Monica Municipal Pier. High and low tides throughout the day are marked by dramatic episodes swirling through the live acoustical space. Each high tide brings in a few new pieces of 'sonic driftwood', short snippets of sound that are dropped into cyclonic rings, slowly rotating through the space, repeating at irregular intervals. The result is a raindrop smattering soundscape, constantly familiar yet constantly cycling. Each low tide washes away a few sounds, so that over time the materials are replenished like so much coastline flotsam and jetsam. The sonic driftwood consists of sounds recorded around the site, with the addition of instrumental materials provided by Jesse Catron, Paul Livingstone, Pauline Oliveros, Jeremy Drake, Philip Gelb and Vinny Golia.
The installation can be heard daily from 8am–11pm in the subterranean level of the parking garage. Edgemar is at 2415 Main St. in Santa Monica, south of Pico, north of Lincoln.
Press: Los Angeles Times (paywall, see below for PDF), New York Arts.
| la_times_reprint.pdf_1 |
The Technology
16 NXT flat-panel speakers mounted in the ceiling. Mac computer running custom MAX/MSP software. MOTU digital to analog convertor. Two environmental sensing microphones used to build an archive of site sounds (not used in real-time). Microphone system for elevator detection used to evolve sounds when visitors are nearby. Microphone system for exhaust fan detection used to control overall sound level when fan is running.
