While we all wait patiently for a new Andrew Bird album, the composer/violinist/songwriter continues to explore his other areas of interest, this time with artist/sculptor/inventor Ian Schneller of Specimen Products and the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art.
Creating what is called The Sonic Arboretum, the installation consists of a “forest” of plant-shaped audio horn speakers powered by custom-made tube amplifiers. These speakers and amps will cover the atrium at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art and serve as a compositional garden for Bird who will create new site-specific compositions that play continuously as museum visitors meander and follow the music’s lead. As part of the MCA Stage’s 2011-12 season the Sonic Arboretum will be on exhibit December 6 – 31 with two special Sonic Events on Wednesday, December 21 and Thursday, December 22 where Bird will perform using the Sonic Arboretum as the P.A.
The Sonic Arboretum previously appeared for a one-night only even at the Guggenheim last year, and to get an idea of what to expect for Chicago, you can check out a video below. For tickets to one of the two sonic events, you can click here.
ANDREW BIRD AND IAN SCHNELLER AT THE GUGGENHEIM from JOHNSON CINEMATING AND OFF SET on Vimeo.
