SO, I’ve been playing catch up. This semester is CRAZY … if it’s not one thing, it’s another, but SOMEHOW I’m managing to get things done (we’ll see how long that lasts … first paper due and first exam next week!! Ugggg …).
It’s interesting to think that EVERYTHING we hear during the day (BESIDES, and yet including, “music”) can be transformed and concentrated into something that would be considered “MUSIC” or even “ART.” Falling raindrops to brakes screeching in the streets … things that easily go unrecognized or that are quickly discarded, form these complex rhythms that can only be heard when the listener truly focuses their attention to the task.
Stephen Vitiello takes the din of everyday life and makes art. He is what is considered a sound/”noise” artist. He does installations, Internet, video, film, dance and music for audio CD. Not only a solo artist, he has also collaborated with many other visual artists, musicians and choreographers, enhancing and aiding in the presentation of their works. For example, in 2006, Vitiello collaborated with video artists Matt Flowers and Nic Desantis. Their video featured at the 804noise festival consists of recurring images and industrial sounds.
Overall, his style isn’t exactly my own, however, I find it extremely interesting that he does what he does. I’ve found
myself sitting on the bus just listening to nothing, but then finding rhythm in naturally (or unnaturally) occuring sounds. I appreciate his World Trade Center Recordings: Winds After Hurrican Floyd more than some of his others because he doesn’t digitally manipulate the recording. In the piece he placed microphones on the outside of the 91st floor of the World Trade Center to record what was going on outside (passing planes, wind, birds, etc.). In simply playing back a recording, those listening can truely experience that which he is trying to present.
