WATER Shadows : South River (NAISA North)
WATER Shadows is an installation of sound sculptures that celebrates water, featuring field recordings of watery soundscapes in the artist’s community. As one moves through the ‘water temple complex’ of steel sculptures wrapped in discarded bicycle inner tubes, the unique sound ecology of each water-recording site is experienced as one continuous flow. Boundaries are dissolved as the raw recordings of both natural and machine-made sounds blend together. Using Arduino microcontrollers and speakers inside the works, the voice of water is amplified, allowing it to speak for itself. In this way, WATER Shadows opens a dialogue that encourages the benign and beautiful symbiotic relationship between nature and society.
WATER Shadows in essence, is a sanctuary of sorts, a sculptural landscape in which to tune to the wild currents within ourselves and our world.
Deep listening is encouraged here as Hermann Hesse writes,
“They both listened silently to the water, which to them was not just water, but the voice of life, the voice of Being, the voice of perpetual Becoming.”
Web Water Portal : South River
An Invitation
Julia White invites you to participate in WATER Shadows by sharing your own personal reflections on water. Unique to NAISA, sonic water offerings are being gathered. The recording device on the water obelisk is the gathering vessel, ready to receive your contributions.
Name a watery place that is special to you, sound it out, sing it, tell a story, recount a dream, offer an idea or a poem, record the voice of water as it flows near you…
Each unique sonic offering will be collected as an essential part of the exhibit, digitally archived and made available here as they come in.
*There is also a potential for some of these sonic water offerings to be woven into future versions of this evolving installation, by becoming part of the sculptural soundscape as well. I can imagine…
Any and all contributions are welcome!
You may also upload your sonic water offerings here –
*TIP- use the voice memo app on your phone to record your sonic water offering.
Email it to yourself and it will automatically be converted into an mp3 file that you can upload here. It’s easy!
We will edit it on our end.
Click on the banner above to access WATER Shadows and other inspiring sound art projects at New Adventures in Sound Art
WATER Shadows
Julia White
September 26 to December 13, 2021 Thursday to Monday, 10am – 4pm
NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 106 Ottawa Ave, South River
Listen to the podcast HERE
Making Waves: Julia White and Laurel MacDonald (Audio)
Oct 09, 2021
Produced by New Adventures in Sound Art
Today’s episode features discussions with visual artist Julia White and singer-composer-video artist Laurel MacDonald. Both artists are from NAISA’s SOUNDplay festival. Julia White uses sound recordings of creeks and other small waterways in her exhibition called WATER Shadows. The subject of water weaves through different aspects of this work, which is also informed by her practice in deep listening. Laurel MacDonald’s artistic development began in both visual arts and music. After establishing herself as a vocalist and composer she began creating video works combining abstract imagery with her vocal music. Her conversation with host Darren Copeland focuses on her latest audio-visual piece called “I Eat the Stars” which explores the poetry of astronomer Rebecca Elson and will be performed on Nov 6. Visit naisa.ca to learn more about both of these artists.
Listen to the artist speak about what inspired her to create WATER Shadows –
