Lamson first began experimenting with resonant sound during his recent Binaural / Nodar Artist Residency in Portugal. The artist attached rocks to a metal railing on a bridge that spanned a river. The rocks were then attached to bottles that floated in the river via long strings. When the bottles bobbed in the river, the rocks struck the railing, creating a low-frequency, ringing sound captured through microphones Lamson affixed to the metal.

Railing, rocks, string, and bottles in Nodar, Portugal.

The river.

Similarly, the artist often develops devices that harness the power inherent within the natural environment in his practice. In 2009 Lamson created a series of automatic drawing apparatuses that harness the power of wind or water. Lamson attached a drawing utensil to his inventions, which then created fine, detailed works determined by the surrounding weather conditions. His project for the IMA will similarly make apparent the unseen forces that surround us, as a radio signal (also linked with the weather) is made audible and tactile through the vibrations in the tower.

Lamson’s automatic drawing titled "Jan 28, 09 1130AM–230PM, Colonia Valdense, Uruguay"

Since January, Lamson has been working in Pierogi Gallery’s Boiler space in Brooklyn, where high ceilings have allowed for the construction of the resulting adapted 35-foot tower. After completion of the structure, Lamson has conducted extensive experiments with it to investigate all of the possibilities for sound that the object is capable of producing.

Lamson standing inside the structure at the Pierogi Boiler.

I was recently able to see the project in development and meet with Lamson on location in Brooklyn, where he was continuing to discover new ways to engage the installation. Alternating audio feeds create a varied soundtrack surrounding the installation. Sometimes the NOAA broadcast can be barely discerned; at other times, the radio signal activates a bass shaker (a vibrating mechanism attached to the tower), the effects of which can be heard and felt when touching the object. Lamson also employs other devices through unconventional means to find ways of capturing different aspects of the sound the tower produces. For example, when the artist touches an electric guitar pickup to the tower at different locations, a range of sounds emerge from the structure as it creates an escalating feedback loop.

Lamson in Brooklyn using a magnetic guitar pickup to make vibrations through the tower audible.

Join us for the opening of Lamson’s installation for the Efroymson Family Entrance Pavilion, including an artist lecture and sound-based performance on the installation by Lamson during an evening of contemporary art at the IMA starting at 5:30 on Thursday, April 7th.

Also held at the IMA on the 7th is a panel discussion between IMA curator and Commissioner for the U.S. Pavilion during the 2011 Venice Biennale, Lisa Freiman; Cheryl Hartup, Chief Curator, Ponce Museum of Art in Ponce, Puerto Rico; and Anabelle Rodriguez-Lawton, Adjunct Professor of Art History and Liberal Arts, The University of the Arts + Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia.

Look like a rerun of X-Files? It’s not. If you’ve been around the Museum after dark recently, you may have spotted the new LED light installation in The Sutphin Fountain. Jeff Earl, head electrician at the IMA, replaced all the original white halogen lights, many submerged underwater, with the new technology. 

Red, green and blue LEDs of the 5mm type. Source: Wikipedia

A light emitting diode (LED) is an electronic light source. The first LED was built in the 1920s by a radio technician who noticed that diodes used in radio receivers emitted light when current was passed through them. The LED was introduced as a practical electronic component in 1962 (See Wikipedia). LEDs are considered more energy efficient and require less maintenance than traditional lighting. They also boast a life of about 50,000 hours–more than five years! This replacement energy concept is certainly green for the IMA’s future. The well-known Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas uses LED technology to create its 1,500 foot light display.

The new LED technology also serves as an revenue generator. The public can request various colored lighting shows for weddings, dinners and other special events for a fee. Because the lights are run off a computer, the 17 color choices are easy to navigate between. When the NCAA was here, Jeff recalled, they requested a  blue and orange display and were very pleased with the result.

The IMA is planning several upcoming LED projects at the IMA. One of these efforts includes installing 49 energy efficient LED lights in the overlook of the Efroymson Family Entrance Pavilion of the Museum. (“Just before the Star Wars’ doors,” Jeff explained.)

Meet Jeff Earl and see time lapse footage of the LED light installation in the IMA ArtBabble video below.