 "Photo: Photo by Samantha Emerson")
 "Photo: Samantha Emerson / UCD Advocate")
The A:D:A:P:T CD Release Party, part of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s visualsoundings monthly series, was a sensory overload of the best kind. The Sept. 20 event was an extravaganza of art and music, as well as a celebration of digital transmissions and the creative freedom it allows. Upon entering the doors of the MCA, music, video screenings — perhaps the evening’s most thought provoking medium — and textural art stood from floor to ceiling. Ceiling fans were transformed into floor fans, and bathtubs were filled with Christmas ornaments.
visualsoundings was a concept started by a group of artists, musicians, and visionaries at the University of Denver, who wanted to push the dimensional borders to make room for all the senses to experience. The entire project is based on new ideas and fresh perspectives, and conveys an absolutely enticing vibe to both the artist and spectator.
“Basically it started out in the Summer of 2002 as Trace’s [Reddell - Assistant Professor of Digital Media Studies at the University of Denver] event at the end of the digital audio class,” said Matthew Chiabotti, a.k.a. em.chia, “and one year we held the event, at the end of the quarter, at the [MCA] and they liked it.”
The project consists of Trace Reddell (a.k.a. pHarmanaut and Galactus Zeit), em.chia, equuli, David Fodel (a.k.a. devslashnull), twine, ovni and Crix Madine (a.k.a. DJ Nathan). The live performances challenged one’s artistic ideas, pushing realms of creative ability beyond even the most abstract expectations. The reputation that haunts many gallery shows — which is slightly negative at best and unbearably pretentious at worst, most specifically with “new concept” themes such as these — was nowhere to be found. Chiabotti said Saturday night had “the best turnout we’ve seen yet.” The movement, with more events already planned ahead for this year, will only continue to grow.
Chiabotti, along with Reddell, played an audiovisual set of “dueling laptops,” which consists of several computer programs running noises and rhythms in harmony with streaming video above their performance. The confluence of the various media creates a brand new form of electronic musical experimentation, a sort of 21st century one-man-band facilitated by digital technology.
“I ask myself how can I push this sound to break? And then how can I break it again?”, said Chiabotti. “I just want to play non-traditional for the sake of doing it. It’s really just music and art connecting in a different space.”
Using his computer, Chiabotti - who holds a degree in Digital Media Studies from DU - will have 10 to fifteen windows open at one time, ranging from MP3’s to international audio recordings off the web, importing sounds and transforming them improvisationally, creating an innovative sound that, somewhat surprisingly, always makes sense. Some members of the project use 8-tracks and tape players along with new technology to incorporate unique and different sounds. The artists place no limits on themselves in terms of what they’ll use for the formation of their art.
visualsoundings doesn’t just offer an unbelievably interesting and thought provoking show. Even the fliers themselves offer something different: Refreshments, couches and Pop Art, all of which were of fantastic caliber, surpassing the stereotypical gallery show filled with wine, cheese and bad conversation with people with whom you would rather sic your dog on than spend an evening around.
Several of the works being exhibited at the CMA tremendously complemented the audio-visual fusion, bringing a fresh, revived attitude to a Denver Art scene that previously lacked the courage to give such daring and unique concepts a chance. On this night, the CMA’s gamble yielded a huge artistic payoff.
Given time and inevitable growth, the CMA and visualsoundings have the potential to contribute to Denver a definitive cultural and artistic image comparable to that of New York, Las Angeles or San Francisco - to name but a few domestic creative hotbeds. But this growth will have to consist largely of state funds allocated towards the arts, which, sadly, bear very little weight when compared to certain “monstrous” construction projects in the Centennial state. Yet institutions and people , such as the CMA and the artists involved in A:D:A:P:T and visualsoundings projects, are working together to break free of creative and financial shackles, giving birth to new mediums and methods and ensuring the importance and sustainability of Colorado’s artistic community.
“We’ve been opening more events,” Chiaotti enthused. ”To see the growth is really exciting.”
Make box for this
For any information regarding visualsoundings, they can be checked out at http://www.du.edu/~treddell/. Tickets for the events are $3 for CMA members and Students (wit valid ID) and $5 for everyone else. visualsoundings CD’s are available, along with many other eye-catching items in the CMA gift shop. The CMA is located at 1275 19th Street in one of LoDo’s original fundamentally cool spots, Sakura Square. Their web site is www.mcartdenver.org or call at .
new form of electronic musical experimentation, a kind of 21st century version of the one-man band facilitated by digital technology.
“I ask myself, how can I push this sound to break? And then, how can I break it again?” said Chiabotti. “I just want to play non-traditional for the sake of doing it. It’s really just music and art connecting in a different space.”
Using his computer, Chiabotti — who holds a degree in Digital Media Studies from DU — will have 10 to 15 windows open at one time, ranging from MP3’s to international audio recordings off the web. By importing sounds and transforming them improvisationally, Chiabotti creates an innovative sound that, somewhat surprisingly, always makes sense. Some members of the project use 8-tracks and tape players along with new technology to incorporate unique and different sounds. The artists place no limits on themselves in terms of what they’ll use for the formation of their art.
Be the first to comment on this article!