012 Topoextension  

Topoextension is a site-specific sound installation located outside The Redhouse Arts Center in Syracuse, New York. A long and narrow architectural corridor motivates the work’s central question: if one were to extend the straight line of the corridor all the way to the west coast and east coast of the United States, where would the line pass through and where would it end?

By using common geographic tools found online, the corridor’s trajectory is plotted to Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Newport Beach, California. Converting this data into sound, a vocal quartet is recorded singing the phrases “This way to Portsmouth” and “This way to Newport Beach”. These two recordings are then drastically stretched and manipulated using custom software. The 10-second-long recordings become a 10-minute-long sound composition. Likewise, the 60-foot length of the corridor is extended to the 2600-mile expanse across the continent.

Topoextension was commissioned by The Redhouse Arts Center and will be installed through 2009.

Click here to listen to 10 minute composition.

-posted Friday January 29, 2009-

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