Close Loop, 2020
Close Loop was an installation consisting of several charcoal drawings of incomplete and complete circles printed on transparent sheets and hung in a mobile in the center of the room. The installation plays with graphic notation, sculptural design, and community improvisation. The purpose of the piece was to invite anyone from any background - musician or not - to make sound together in a way that they felt represented the graphic notation in front of them and connected with their fellow sound-makers.
Close Loop was installed at CalArt’s Wave Cave from March 1st - March 8th, 2020. The room was open with simple instruments provided 24/7 during the installation. There were two main “performances” during which selected performers - musicians and non-musicians - would begin to interpret the piece while encouraging any audience member to pick up an instrument and join them.
My intent behind the piece was to challenge the idea often heard when telling someone new that you are a musician, oftentimes they respond with the same phrase - “I could never do that”. And although this piece didn’t teach anyone western notation or how to have perfect tone when playing the oboe, it did consist of many people who had never touched an instrument making sound together informed by one source.
