Sponsored by the Vasudha Living and Learning Community with support from the Volmer Fries Endowment

Abstract

For over three decades there has been an ongoing discourse addressing the role that the sonic arts can play in increasing our collective awareness to environmental issues through sensitizing us to the soundscape. A variety of approaches and strategies have used experimental music practices and audio recording technologies to document, compose, preserve, study, manipulate, intensify, and otherwise attempt to bring issues of the natural environment into foreground awareness through sound. This presentation will focus upon composer David Dunn’s participation in projects that have attempted to bring artists and scientists together towards applied environmental problem solving. These projects illustrate how the sonic arts might move beyond documentary and sensory heightening strategies alone towards participation in both scientific research and subsequent interventions to growing environmental dilemmas.

Bio

David Dunn, composer and environmentalist, col¬laborates with scientists to make sonic art that moves from documentation and aesthetics to ap¬plied environmental problem solving. He is Director of the Art & Science Laboratory in Santa Fe.