CALL-A-GAZEEBO

A Speakers Corner for The Paseo Festival in TAOS

Gazeebo_Benoit_Maubrey

Equipment: 350 recycled loudspeakers, 4 amplifiers, 4 Bluetooth recievers, 4 radio recievers, 1 telephone answering machine.

An interactive 4-channel sound sculpture that allows the people to play their annoucements, messages and music directly and live through it.

This can happen 3 ways:
— via a special, designated phone number people can call up the sculpture and talk „live“ through it for 3 minutes.
— via bluetooth technology and their smart phones local visitors can also play their songs „live“ through one of the channels.
— via a direct „line in“ socket local musicians, groups, and politiciens can give speeches and concerts during events that happen in and around the gazeebo.

In effect the sculpture acts as local public “hotspot” (see SPEAKERS CORNER in Hyde Park/ London) that local people and visitors can use to express themselves.

The sculpture is split into 4 channels on different sides so that messages do not interfere with one another.
The sound volume is regulable: and can be changed according to the situation via a mixing board which also means that the sculpture can also be used as a PA system for public events and local DJs.

As “heartbeat“ sound the sculpture also plays low-level „white noise“ sound from 4 radio receivers as well as people‘s voices: this sounds like a distant waterfall.

The sculpture itself has only signal cable and therefore is not electrically dangerous. It functions from 10 AM to 8 PM daily (unless programmed otherwise).

Download Gazeebo 5.pdf [205kB]

 


 

 

SHRINE

A Speakers Sculpture for the Kobe Biennale.

A Torii Gate (see picture below) is a place „where the spirits are more likely to hear your prayers“.

SHRINE

SHRINE-short-2

In my project SHRINE I wish to create a public sound sculpture that allows the spectators to express themselves and play music directlythrough the sculpture in Meriken Park. In effect SHRINE functions as a „Speakers Corner“ (like at Hyde Park in London) or a social „hub“ where people meet by chance or „rendezvous“. The massive PA system has 8 channels so that 8 people can interact simultaneously. People can use their smart phones spontaneously to talk through the sculpture: connections happen directly on site, locally or internationally.

 


 

 

Prototype Automomous Solar Energy Project in Haiti

Prototype of a 9 KW mini-solar plant in a rural University in Haiti (UNIF/Fondwa)

Download SOLAR FONDWA , PDF 1.3 MB

 


 

IDWALS LAMENT : THE VALLEY PEACOCKS

A Proposal from Benoit Maubrey for Soundlands’ Bangor Sound City.
Audio Peacocks in the Cwm Idwal Valley/ Snowdania, Wales.
A “herd” of electroacoustic “birds” wander into the Valley.
This mobile and multiacoustic ensemble wear costumes equipped with samplers, amplifiers, speakers and batteries.
Their autonomous instruments allow them to interact with the natural amphitheater-like environment of the Cwm Iwal Valley.
The individual performers’ sounds echo and reverberate with each other throughout the landscape.
Their voices are transformed into the lonely cries of a strange species breaking against the mountain slopes:
Idwals* lament echoes across the valley and reverberates on the lake’s surface.

N.B. Even though the Valley Peacocks are not particularly social (like wild mountain goats or cows in the Alps with their cacophonous bells) they are not shy and are also known to enjoy other acoustic surroundings such as nearby Conry Castle (see photos).

*The cultural significance of the valley is exemplified in the fabled origins of its name, named in memory of Idwal, son of one of the ancient Princes of Gwynedd who according to legend, drowned in the lake.

Download Valley PEACOCK PDF, 440 kB

 


 

BANGOR SOUND CITY

For BANGOR SOUND CITY, the plan is to convert the local clocktower into a “Speakers Corner” made of over 5,000 weather-resistant loudspeakers, would allow the public to express itself “live” for 3 minutes via Bluetooth receivers, Wi-FI, and a local telephone number. The sculpture would also be available for local concerts and public art events.

 

Download SPEAKER SCULPTURES 2014 PDF

 


 

SPEAKERS POST

Concept for the Waterfront Project in Seattle . I plan to create a gigantic SPEAKERS POST, using as model the carved wood posts from local Native Americans (the Kwakiutl of British Columbia — see image below) that were used during Potlatch ceremonies to amplify visitors’ voices. My “upgraded” version, made of over 20,000 weather-resistant loudspeakers, would allow the public to express itself “live” for 3 minutes via Bluetooth receivers, Wi-FI, and/or a local telephone number. The sculpture would also be available for local concerts and public art events.

 

Download SPEAKER SCULPTURES 2014 PDF

 


 

SHOP WINDOWS

An interactive electroacoustic sculpture made of 1200 recycled loudspeakers.
Sound: low-level white noise (electromagnetic waves) are the “heartbeat” of the sound sculpture. Additionally people can call up the WINDOWS and talk through it for 3 minutes. Also via bluetooth technology spectators within 20 meters of the sculpture can participate orally/musically with their smartphones. In effect the sculpture functions as a “Speakers Corner”.

 

Download SHOP WINDOWS PDF

 


 

TREE (project for the Sculpture Museum in Marl/Germany)

The Tree is wrapped with 350 recycled loudspeakers. These are soldered together and connected to amplifiers, radio receivers, bluetooth audio receivers.
The Tree plays low-level white noise however the public is also allowed via bluetooth technology to express themselves (voices and music via their smartphones) as “oral graffitti“.

 

TREE PDF download

 


 

PORTE SONORE (SPEAKERS GATE)

Project for Les Abattoirs (near Lyon) for the Festival Electrochoc

materials: 1000 recycled loudspeakers (soldered together as an 8-channel system), one 24-channel mixing board, 10 amplifiers, 10 recycled receivers , 10 recycled cassette players/ “ghetto blasters” , 10 DVD/CD players.
Sound: low-volume multi-acoustic white noise (white noise = electromagnetic sound waves change according to weather, time, radio stations and frequencies) .
Also the public can call up the sculpture via a local telephone number and talk through it “live” for 3 minutes with their telephones or use their smart phones to play and create tunes.
The sculpture would also be available for local concerts and public art events.

 

PORTE SONORE PDF download

 


 

SPEAKERS BARGES

Project for in Copenhagen’s Festival Strøm and Wundergrund Festival .
1000 Loudspeakers, 20 amplifiers, assorted recycled electronic materiels, 1 answering machine + telephone number. People can call up the Ship and talk LOUD through 1000 loudspeakers for 3 minutes.

 

SPEAKERS BARGES PDF download

 


 

SPEAKERS CONTAINER

 

 

SPEAKERS CONTAINER PDF download

 

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