soundNest

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The original soundNest : 2013


soundNest installation, July 2013

The original SOUNDNEST was a wildly colorful large outdoor installation, in Baltimore, MD, approximately 60x30 feet. The installation was constructed on the Mt Royal median strip, at MICA, in the heart of Artscape. In three days, thousands flowed through the gates. "Wow" was the word most frequently heard from those upon entering.

During the summer of 2013, Liz Swanson, ryanSmith, & Alzaruba (also known as DIALOG +) collaborated with artists to construct 11 ft. tall panels made from found materials: clothing, bed sheets, construction fencing, etc. These panels (with a shear white backing), were then assembled to create a tent-like structure, and intertwined with pre-existing trees. A modular framework of curved aluminum poles was assembled to help support the panels.

Sound artists, Justin Miller, and ryanSmith, constructed dozens of handmade instruments for the public to play inside "soundNest". These instruments included: bells, gongs, drums, wind chimes, cymbals, and handmade kalimbas.

During the three days of Artscape, over 20 experimental musicians played onstage, inside "Sound Nest", from new talent like Luke Fisher to local legend Neil Feather.

Blurring the borderline between audience and performer, the musicians were to harmoniously perform with the cacophony of sounds made by the random, public participants.



TV Reporters from ABC2 News, video taped the work, and later did a segment about the soundNest installation:



soundNest
- ABC2 news, Baltimore


the builders of "the Nest"
the builders of "the Nest"


soundNest during artScape:
[ scroll left to right to see more ]


the building of soundNest:
[ click to enlarge ]


selected soundNest performers:
[ see video page for full list of musical performers ]


the hosts of soundNest

July 2013