Shannon Collis

March 19 - April 20, 2012
At Intervals
york corridor vitrines

Soundlines
black box

Events
Vernissage:
Thursday March 29, 5-7 p.m.

Soundlines Performance:
Tuesdays April 3, 10, 17, 4-6 p.m.
Thursday April 19, 2-4 p.m.

At Intervals explores the sonic behaviors of different material surfaces when agitated by a variety of kinetic, mechanical devices. The project consists of simple systems that explore the expressive character of audible visual phenomena and the relationship between the drawing substrate, the printed mark, and sound. Small motors, wires, and other devices act as tools to etch the surface of steel plates, while contact microphones amplify the sonic activity.

In her work, Collis is investigating the interplay between the physical shape of a mark and its auditory manifestation. The resulting images are visual traces that reveal both the dense layering and subtle patterns of movement. These images are shown together alongside their related acoustic-mechanical devices. Both elements evolve through a series of stages, a process of translation, and exchange between artist and technologies.

This project marks the latest in a series of ongoing experiments, based on research into early drawn-sound techniques used for musical score analysis and sound-on-film technology. In this work, Collis is investigating the sensorial conjunction of sound and image, its potential in an interactive context, and how our senses apprehend and interpret audio-visual stimuli. She looks to expand on methods from a traditional practice by exploring the potential of drawing and gesture in emphasizing the materiality of sound.

In particular, this project will develop interesting ways to make audible the visual qualities of hand-generated marks, using an optical sound synthesizer that transforms rendered imagery (drawing as input) into sound. Participants will draw ink on a glass surface that covers a series of light-dependent resistors, generating differences in the incoming light to control the quality of diverse sounds. These drawings will modulate light, depending on particular characteristics (i.e. size, shape, opacity, etc.). The system allows participants to actively draft an improvised ‘visual score’ by applying and erasing medium on a transparent surface.

This project develops interesting ways to make audible the visual qualities of hand-generated marks, using an optical sound synthesizer that transforms rendered imagery (drawing as input) into sound. Participants will draw ink on a glass surface that covers a series of light-dependent resistors, generating differences in the incoming light to control the qualityof diverse sounds. These drawings will modulate light, depending on particular characteristics (i.e. size, shape, opacity, etc.). The system allows participants to actively draft an improvised ‘visual score’ by applying and erasingmedium on a transparent surface.

Shannon Collis is an artist currently residing in Montreal where she is a graduate student in the Special Individualized Program at Concordia University. A graduate of the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Collis also attended the University of New South Wales in Sydney Australia and received a Bachelor of Visual Communication Design from the University of Alberta. Her work has been exhibited across North America as well as in Europe and Australia.

If you are a Concordia undergraduate fine arts student and would like to contribute a review please email SASA at sasa.art.studies@gmail.com