Trying to Relate

Since beginning my residency at Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media in September of 2022, I have been creating a new body of work that explores ceramic sound sculptures. This work includes whistling water vessels, many flutes, and wall-mounted instruments. Through these interactive sound objects, I am exploring ideas around communication and how we relate to other people. 

Some of these pieces are created to elicit joy, while others are designed to be uncomfortable to interact with, such as a tandem flute that is to be played by two people at once, with their faces only a few inches from each other. Other flutes are in pairs, meant to be played side by side, while the notes being played may or may not be in harmony. This work is as playful as it is intricate–a delicate balance of fun and patience. 

Learning to play the instruments can be a challenge for some people and requires a measure of bodily awareness. Consider your own self-awareness and societal awareness. How much effort do we put into our relationships with others and ourselves? Even those of us who are mindful of communication skills are not always skilled at communicating!  In the same way, it can be incredibly awkward to have a conversation with certain people, while relating to others might be effortlessly enjoyable. Interpersonal relationships can be beautiful at times and awkward at others, just as each person’s relationship and reaction to each piece of art. These associations and interactions become part of the artwork itself. 

Videos demonstrating sounds are below, and new videos will be added periodically.