into_the_breaks

This is a radio performance of soundscapes layered upon soundscapes from Jackson Park and 63rd St Beach, time folded in on itself with echoes of Ida B. Wells writings on the absence of the black body at this site mixed with recordings from Lou Harrison, Artistic Heritage Ensemble, Exploding Star Orchestra,  Robert AA Lowe, Anthony Braxton and Josh Abrams. My expectation is that this piece gives us the space to contemplate and meditate on our own presence.             Jackson Park was an integral part of the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. Ida B. Wells published  “THE REASON WHY The Colored American is not in the World's Columbian Exposition. The Afro-American's Contribution to Columbian Literature”                         This pamphlet protests the absence of African-Americans at the fair a...

This is a compilation of synth improvisations played with field recordings I've made from Hyde Park 2010-2012. I'm exploring performance set ups where I do not need to work from my laptop during performances. I'd like to step away from using my laptop temporarily for artistic, financial and security reasons.  I've been exploring analog synthesizers and improvising with them since January of this year. Last year I was able to buy a Korg LittleBits synth kit from a radio shack that was going out of business. My initial interest was exploring ways I can incorporate this kit in installations with its clicks, drones and rhythms. My inspiration for these installations center around the work of Rolf Julius and African and Afro Caribbean Altars.  Time passed and I didn't have a studio space anymore so I shelved that idea. However I was still listening and thinking about how I wanted my work to sound. An important thing to think about! I was not happy with how I was ...

'scapes from normanwlong on Vimeo . ‘scapes incorporates the sound and cultural landscape of the West Loop and Union Park in Chicago to present an improvised experience and installation. I am making strange the very familiar via process field recording, sound-walks, mapping, and audio/visual processing. By incorporating glitch and dub technology into my objects, video, and sound components sourced from the area, I am “versioning” the West Loop, offering an alternate way of moving through personal and public space. spectroscape from normanwlong on Vimeo . Spectroscape, 2015 Video from spectroscope that reads chemicals in the air, sound is sourced from reader that converts spectra to sound. mapping from normanwlong on Vimeo . Mapping , 2015 Glitched maps of Norman’s studio and the surrounding neighborhood

http://mwsae.org/soundwalk-in-the-pullman-historic-district/

Chicago Humanities Festival Wednesday, December 9 | 6-7 PM The Arts Club of Chicago 201 E Ontario St | Chicago, IL | 60611 Members: $9 Public: $12 Students and Teachers: $5 I am humbled an honored to be included in this program and festival. Please stop by if you can. Thank you for listening.

Thanks to Edra Soto of the  Franklin  for inviting me to lead a sound walk of her neighborhood.  The sound walk was  paired with the opening reception for   Hardcore Architecture by Mark Fisher. We started with a walk around the block and ended the program with a walk to Garfield Park lagoons. These walks basically focus on listening as a way of learning about your community. We focus on the sound we make and the sounds that are made and how they define a community and differ from space to space but make up a more diverse soundscape than what we would notice if we were not mindful of what we are hearing. photos by Victoria Sky