Autumn News

Installation view of Texas Design Now at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 2015. Photo by Paul Hester.

• Several Sonic Fabric garments are included in the TEXAS DESIGN NOW exhibition (August 21 through November 29) at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. I participated in a panel discussion at the museum on Saturday September 26th.

• My article The Art of Ontological Revolution using the philosoprops in a discussion of feminist-physicist-philosopher Karen Barad's notions of multispecies intra-activity is included in the Summer 2015 issue of Antennae: The Journal of Nature in Visual Culture.

•  My article on how sound shapes the experience of living, Introduction to Rhythmanalysis: Psychogeography and the Phenomenology of Acoustic Atmosphere, was published this summer in Chilean sound art magazine AURAL: Geografías Audibles.

• 4. UPCOMING: I'm very excited about an article that's set to come out in the Nov/Dec 2015 "Politics & Sound Art" issue of Leonardo Music Journal. This piece is modeled after one that appeared in the famed SOURCE: MUSIC OF THE AVANT GARDE magazine in 1969 – twenty composers were asked a single question: "Have you, or has anyone, ever used your work for political or social ends?"  I look forward to being back in touch with an update the moment LMJ #25 is available!

• ALSO UPCOMING: Julian Mock and I (aka: Projects for Prepared Ear) are thrilled to have been invited to present our Graphic Mode Charts at the New Music Gathering at the Peabody School of Music in Baltimore this January! More later on this as well.

• For anyone interested in having a look: SONICFABRIC.COM has recently received a total re-design.

Introduction to Rhythmanalysis: Psychogeography and the Phenomenology of Acoustic Atmosphere

My article on how sound shapes the experience of living is now out in the July 2015 issue of Chilean sound art magazine AURAL: Geograffias Audibles, a publication of Tsonami.

The piece is available in English with (with added illustrative audio media!) here: http://alycesantoro.com/rhythmanalysis.html

“Everywhere there is interaction between a place, a time, and an expenditure of energy there is rhythm”. [The rhythmanalyst] is capable of listening to a house, a street, a town as one listens to a symphony…” – Henri Lefebvre

The Art of Ontological Revolution

My article "The Art of Ontological Revolution" is included in the Karen Barad-inspired Summer 2015 multispecies intra-action issue of Antennae: The Journal of Nature in Visual Culture.

Here's the abstract: 

Karen Barad’s concept of intraconnectedness brings to light paradoxes inherent in many commonly held views, not only with regard to science and the scientific method, but also involving common everyday perceptions. By identifying ourselves as simultaneously independent and interdependent, as both observer and observed, and of nature yet separate from it, a cognitive (quantum?) leap occurs: we begin to accept these perceived dualities as merely different sides of a single, shared coin. Suddenly all of us are participatory agents in a phenomenon that responds to our existence, because it IS our existence...all of our existences, all at once. How would our experience of reality be different if existence were commonly imagined to be a collective affair?

The entire issue is freely available at http://www.antennae.org.uk/.
Link to download. This paper can also be found at Academia.edu.

VISIBLE SOUND at CENTRAL FEATURES

Rubens' Tube demonstration for the opening of VISIBLE SOUND at CENTRAL FEATURES from alyce santoro on Vimeo.

The wonderful VISIBLE SOUND exhibition at Central Features in Albuquerque runs until June 6. In addition to a video of the Rubens' Tube in action, two Sonic Fabric Scroll Scores and the Mode Charts are currently on display.

how flounder metamorphosis metamorphosed me

Flounder Metamorphosis, India ink on scratchboard. Alyce Santoro, 1993

I am now an interdisciplinary conceptual artist (for lack of a better descriptor...), but I began my career as a marine biologist. After receiving a BS degree in Biology in 1990, I moved to Providence, RI to enroll in Rhode Island School of Design's graduate certificate program in Scientific and Technical Illustration. While attending classes at night, I worked by day as a laboratory assistant at URI, first on salmon aquaculture research, then on a multi-year study of microzooplankton for the seagoing GLOBEC project.

In honor of the March 1 - 7, 2015 #SciArt twitter storm, I offer the following excerpt from my book PHILOSOPROPS: A UNIFIED FIELD GUIDE on how a fish was the catalyst for my own metamorphosis from scientist to artist:

One early drawing in particular made it clear that I was indeed headed into territory not charted by formal education in either science or illustration. I was investigating the life cycle of flounder, which, when they are born, seem to have all the skeletal and other characteristics of an ordinary, bilaterally symmetrical fish. I learned that over the course of their first two weeks of life, however, flounder begin listing to one side, swimming increasingly sideways, with their eyes slowly migrating over to what is to become the top of their head. By the time a flounder is about a month old, it is a fully-formed (if a bit skewed-looking) flatfish, with both eyes on the same side of a camouflage-colored body, white-bellied underneath.

I found this metamorphosis completely astounding, and wanted to know how a fish that begins its life in a "regular" body would know that the time had come to begin transforming into an entirely different shape. The scientists studying flounder at URI could tell me that the process is likely triggered by hormones but that, as yet, there had been nothing discovered about the physical or chemical composition of a newborn flounder to indicate the impending change. 

In the process of studying and drawing flounder, I gained a deeper appreciation for the strange beauty and mysterious habits of these creatures. In examining their every scale, their odd gaze, and the velvety, slimy feel of their skin, I developed a sense of respect and empathy for these fellow life forms that I did not see outwardly expressed by my fellow scientists; any feelings we may have had about the fish were not relevant to the research. But the sensation of awe and wonder was part of the science that I craved and felt most compelled to pursue. If I had known then about Goethe's idea of delicate empiricism, I might have felt less like a misfit. 

More information on this illustrated book about life and work at the intersection of art and science, including long excerpts and a link to download the entire text for free, please visit my website.

re:purposed at the ringling museum

I am extremely pleased to have work included in the Re:Purposed exhibition opening this Friday night, February 13, 2015, at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida. In addition to several of the sonic fabric dresses, I've made a new work especially for this show. Introducing the Scroll-Scores, made of sonic fabric and patches of cassette tape:

graphic mode chart

I have created this visual aid for practicing/understanding the modal system used in Western music. For more information and examples with color added to highlight tonal relationships, please visit my website.

2014 was an intense...i might even go so far as to say outrageous...year for advocates of the obvious. i've whipped up this heartfelt rant in lieu of a standard end-of-year missive. here's to a more (post-)humane 2015:The Post-Anthropo-Scene: Reclaim the Humane, Addendum to the Manifesto for the Obvious International 

More on the OBVIOUS INTERNATIONAL page. 

Liberty, Equality, Geography: An Interview with John P. Clark on the Revolutionary Eco-Anarchism of Elisée Reclus

I recently had the opportunity to interview communitarian anarchist philosopher John P. Clark on his new book containing critical analysis and new translations of the works of French geographer Elisee Reclus. The full interview is available at Truth-out.org.

"In reality, we have good reason to ask whether, if another world does not rapidly become possible, any world at all will remain actual. The impossible community, the Reclusian community of love and solidarity, is a practical and dialectical answer to this more than theoretical, more than rhetorical question. In the midst of a world-destroying epoch, the impossible community presents itself as a world-making and world-preserving community. In the midst of egocentric cynicism and moral paralysis, it is a charismatic community of gifts and of the gift. It is an ethos that inspires and reawakens the person, sweeping him or her into a new realm of deeper reality and more compelling truth. It is our ultimate hope for the world."

2006 Talk as Visiting Artist at the New School's Lang College

Alyce Santoro on The Art of Science, The Science of Art at The New School's Lang College, August 29, 2005 from alyce santoro on Vimeo.

Many of the themes contained in my new book were touched upon during this talk on "the art of science, the science of art" for incoming interdisciplinary students at Lang College.

PHILOSOTOME!!

dear all, as 2013 winds to a close, i'm very pleased to announce that the project i have been excitedly immersed in for most of this year (and which has been in the back of my mind since at least 2001) has at last come to fruition:

http://alycesantoro.com/philosoprops_book.html

as many of you already know, the philosoprops are intended as catalysts for dialog, &/or to illustrate ideas. during my big solo show in nyc back in january, it became amply apparent that the tangible pieces are merely by-products of a process of thought, and that this process is more "the work" than the actual objects themselves. this book is not a catalog that happens to contain images of my work – this is my entire body of work in the form of a book. it takes the objects out of the studio, gallery, or museum and offers the-work-behind-the-work directly to anyone interested.

the 100-page book was beautifully offset printed in an edition of 250 on 100% recycled paper at engelhart printing in wimberley, texas, with over half the edition already spoken for by supporters who secured copies in advance. i'm currently in the process of hand wrapping and addressing over 140 packages – it's such a treat to see so many familiar names, as well as so many whom i have never met. thanks so, so much to each and everyone who helped to make this project possible!!

there are still about 80 print copies available – long excerpts, as well as digital versions, can be found on the philosoprops: a unified field guide dedicated page.

in other news, ecstatic mechanism, my partner julian mock's phenomenal album of unconventional works for solo guitar, was released this fall as well. 

early reports indicate that the book and music work together synergistically.

wishing you and yours a warm and peaceful december,
alyce
alycesantoro.com
@alyceobvious

PHILOSOPROPS: A UNIFIED FIELD GUIDE

dear friends,

i have just launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to print copies of my new book PHILOSOPROPS: A UNFIED FIELD GUIDE.

If a scientist-turned-artist wrote an illustrated guide to philosophical implements used to investigate how thinking shapes culture, this would be it.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/819527322/philosoprops-a-unified-field-guide

the amount of funds i am able to raise will determine whether the book is digitally or offset printed in an edition of 100 or 250. if i can exceed the initial goal, the plan is to invest the additional resources into having the cover letterpress printed. the more i can raise, the more beautiful the book will be as a philosoprop in-and-of itself.

i am crowdsourcing not just the means to print the book, but generous friends are already in the process of helping to edit and proof-read the manuscript. i am also seeking thoughts on publicity, and recommendations on appropriate outlets for distribution (thanks so much to everyone who has already offered ideas!). i am attaching the press release below – please feel free to share it with anyone you feel may be interested!

and please don't hesitate to contact me with any thoughts or questions you may have!

thank you very much to everyone for your ongoing support.

JUNE STUDIO NEWS

"The Impossible Community" by John P. Clark

dear friends, for the past 4+ months solid, since the close of my "solo" * show and associated dialectic revivals at gasser-grunert gallery in nyc, i have been writing. and writing some more. i have something up my sleeve that i look forward to introducing soon...

meanwhile, i'd like to present the obvious international, a sub-work that has emerged from the larger, still-under-wraps project.

"the obvious international" is an imaginary collective - one joins by imagining oneself a part of it.
the manifesto was published this week in article form at truthout - the precepts are being crowdsourced - all are invited to contribute!

i'd also like to invite you to read my interview with social ecologist john p. clark at loyola university on his excellent new book "the impossible community: realizing communitarian anarchism". here's an excerpt:

"We need to stop demanding the impossible and simply do what is impossible. The strongest evidence for the possibility of something, including the impossible, is its actual existence. So, to begin with, we have to do some serious anarchaeology, uncovering the rich history of free community that lies under layers of domination and the ideology of domination." - John P. Clark

in an effort to support my writing habit, i have made available a brand new edition of OM (recorded with 136.1 Hz) ties in the sonic fabric shop, just in time for father's day! on sale now thru the end of june. OM edition yardage in black is also available - special discount for anyone on this list - please inquire.

all best,
alyce
alycesantoro.com
@alyceobvious

*autonomy is an illusion

UTOPIA: you are here

i am attempting the impossible because the possible is entirely unacceptable.

existence precedes essence: the ashtray teacup philosoprop

Ashtray/Teacups, Glass teacups, ceramic paint, letterpress “EXISTENCE essence” tag, open edition begun circa 1995.

Back during my teenage obsession with the existentialists, in an effort to help me understand what Sartre meant by existence precedes essence, my father (a philosophy buff) used the example of a teacup that is used as an ashtray.  A person (or thing) is not necessarily what he or she (or it) purports to be - we are instead defined by our outward function and actions. If the teacup is used as an ashtray, can it really be considered a teacup, or does it take on a new existence as an ashtray?

The Ashtray/Teacup is perhaps my earliest philosoprop.

dialectic revival #4: "really literally literary" with nina katchadourian & elizabeth demaray

dialectic revival #3: wendy osserman's movement score for sonorous sails

Dialectic Revival #3, January 21, 2013: Site-specific movement score by Wendy Osserman performed by dance company members Lauren Ferguson, Emily Vetsch, Cori Kresge, and Wendy Osserman at Gasser-Grunert Gallery for Alyce Santoro's Sonorous Sails.

The Sonorous Sails (Tell-Tail Thangas After Sandy) are a set of 2 sailboat-sail-like shapes (21' x 10' and 17' x 5') made of Sonic Fabric, a textile woven from cassette tape. The sound collages contained in this edition of fabric include samples collected on and under the streets of New York City during the 5 years immediately following 9/11/2001. The "Between Stations" album is available for free download here: soundcloud.com/sonic-disobedience/sets/between_stations

 Tell-Tail Thangas (After Sandy) were created in December of 2012 especially for the cathedral-like lower gallery at Gasser-Grunert, which was entirely submerged during Hurricane Sandy. The sails, pointing to the heavens, are symbols of resurrection, resilience, reverence, and cooperation with nature.

tell-tail thangkas (after sandy) at gasser-grunert

My solo exhibition Philosoprops & Ontological Apparatus from the Center for the Obvious & (Im)Permacultural Research opened at Klemens Gasser & Tanja Grunert Gallery, 524 W19th St, NYC on January 10, and will remain on view until February 16, 2013.

Tell-Tail Thangas (After Sandy) are a set of 2 sailboat sails (21' x 10' and 17' x 5') made of sonic fabric, a textile woven from cassette tape. The recordings contained in this edition of fabric include sound-samples collected on and under the streets of New York City during the 5 years immediately following 9/11/2001. The "Between Stations" album is available for free download. Tell-Tail Thangas (After Sandy) were created in December of 2012 especially for the cathedral-like lower gallery at Gasser-Grunert, which was entirely submerged during Hurricane Sandy. The sails, pointing to the heavens, are symbols of resurrection, resilience, reverence, and cooperation with nature.

dialectic revival series

WELCOME to the DIALECTIC REVIVAL

This month, as part of the Philosoprops & Onotological Apparatus exhibition in NYC at the gallery of Klemens Gasser & Tanja Grunert, we will be hosting a series of focused discussions in the spirit of a Dialectic Revival.

The primary goal of the dialectic method is to pool knowledge and compare and contrast differing viewpoints on a matter for the purpose of deepening overall understanding. Unlike forms of debate in which one side attempts to demonstrate the superiority of a singular view over an opposing one by any means available (including emotional persuasion not based in reason), those willing to engage in a new dialectic favor logic, analytical proof, and rational deduction. Those who participate in dialectic discourse recognize that all conditions are in a continuous state of flux, and therefore definitive resolution may not be possible.

We hope you can join us at 523 W 19th St. for the following discussions:

SATURDAY JAN 19

5pm: "Green Hermeticism and Eco Art"
A discussion on art, science, alchemy, and associated apparatus with Eve Andree Laramee, Linda Weintraub, and Dehlia Hannah

SUNDAY JAN 20

3pm: "In Search Of..."
Killing the Buddha editors Brook Wilensky-Lanford, Nathan Schneider, and Meera Subramanian will invite dialog on quests for the divine, using their own experiences as jumping-off points: searches for the Eden of the past, proof for the existence of God, and an Eden of the future, respectively. Click here for Facebook invite.

MONDAY JAN 21

6:30pm "Site-Specific Movement Score in Room Submerged During Sandy" Wendy Osserman with dance company members Lauren Ferguson, Emily Vetsch, and Cori Kresge will cite the specific.

7pm: "Trigger Points After the Storm"
In a post-Sandy environment can we layer bioregionalism, environmental justice and intuition for coastal resilience? We will explore how aesthetic tools can trigger healing. Hosted by Aviva Rahmani, with Wendy Osserman.

TUESDAY JAN 22

7pm  "Philosoprops & Ontological Apparatus"
Implements as catalysts for discourse with Nathaniel Katz proprietor of the Pacifist Library, Chris Robbins of Ghana Think Tank, and "Really Literally Literary", a special spontaneous action with Nina Katchadourian and Elizabeth Demaray