Sound + Light: Sojourn (Bring Light)

Title: Sojourn (Bring Light)

Our first installation was titled Sojourn because of the nature of the piece, and the nature of our stay in Paducah.  The definition of the word sojourn is "a temporary stay."  In this piece, viewers attending the show chose to enter an environment of our creation for a temporary stay.

Layout: Window front gallery space, and studio/installation space in the back

We chose to use the window front gallery space to display eye-catching Mylar sculptures, and a few of my new drawings.  The gallery also served as a place for mingling and conversation before and after viewing the environment in the studio.  At the entrance to the hallway, attendees were invited to take a flashlight down the hallway to the studio door and use it inside.  Sounds from Jesse's electronic composition could be heard coming from the back of the building while standing in the gallery, making it pretty irresistible to go and see what was going on.

 

 

 

Click "read more" to view the rest of the images!

 

 

 

 

 

We were very pleased with the results.  The installation was easy to engage with, and the feedback from attendees was very positive.  During the open studio we met several of the working artists who live in Paducah.  We are glad we decided to have an event immediately after arriving because we now have time to interact with the vibrant artist community that is here in Paducah.

The idea for the show was simple, and the effect was beautiful.  I have never constructed an interactive show before, and I found it to be invigorating.  I have been working with reflective Mylar for a couple years, so it was also very rewarding to put some of these ideas into action.  Jesse's composition set the atmosphere of the environment, and inspired a variety interactions in the viewers.  Scroll for images of the show, and a copy of our artist statement for the piece.

I was especially pleased with the stark contrast between lights on and lights off.  With the lights on, the room is underwhelming.  The transformation that occurs when the lights are off and flashlights are added is pretty magical.

  

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Sojourn (Bring Light)

Priya Wittman & Jesse Wittman

Resident Artists at A.I.R. Studio Paducah

This installation is an exploration of the relationship between reflective Mylar, light, sound, and time.  The mirror film is cut into large shapes and laid on the floor.  The exposed areas of the floor become pathways for participants walking through the environment.  The sound is a combination of synthesized tones and manipulated samples of running water, playing on a nine-minute loop.  Observers participate in this exploration through their own interaction with the piece, using light as their tool.

As the participants move through the space, they can manipulate their lights to create varying sensations in the environment.  Their choices may be affected by their own nature, by their interest in the qualities of the reflections, or by the change of elements in the sound loop.  At times the environment can be peaceful and reflective, at other times it rises to a frenetic state, dependent on the quality of the sounds and the movement of the participants.

The visual and auditory elements of the installation instigate a dialogue between the natural and the synthetic.  The audio aspect transforms sounds of running water into droning expanses punctuated by glitches and electronically manipulated tones. The visual aspect uses a reflective plastic film and electric light to create temporary, ethereal landscapes, reminiscent of sunlight reflecting off of flowing water.  Singular elements, both natural and synthetic, are manipulated precisely to create a mesmerizing environment in which to contemplate their simultaneous complexity and simplicity.

Coming Soon:

Clips from video documentation of the show, please check back soon!