FACE DULCIMER explores the opposing roles/abilities of human and computer, and their distinct relevances to art, sound, and performance. Consisting of two fundamental modular elements, FACE DULCIMER translates unrefined human facial movement into the precision of Arduino controlled electromechanical solenoids which hit an amplified string at adjustable intervals.
MALLEABLE is a series of instruments designed to generate audio feedback loops via the transmission of sound waves through solid matter, their translation into audio signal, and their amplification onto the original solid matter. The fundamental frequency, amplitude, and timbre of the feedback can be altered by either physical manipulation of the solid, or manipulation of the audio signal.
SUGGESTION 1 for MALLEABLE(trash) is intended to develop the performer’s relationship with the object. SUGGESTION 1 presents a sequence of actions in a flexible form, intentionally avoiding specificity in regard to sound ensuring that each performance will vary depending on the particular iteration of the instrument and interpretation of the performer.
MALLEABLE(planes) is a solid matter audio feedback object. The object can be interacted with by physical manipulation of any of the solid elements or by manipulation of the audio signal. The distinct acoustic properties of the variable materials used and many available feedback paths result in simultaneous soundings of varying tones, timbres, and amplitudes. MALLEABLE(planes) is part of a greater series of MALLEABLE objects, all of which involve solid matter feedback as a core element of their sonic identity.
MALLEABLE(planes) is designed such that any manipulation of the solid elements of the object will result in a change in the sound produced, and so that it is often uncontrollable in any specific manner, frequently generating new sounds on its own. This lack of controllability, which ideally prohibits the development of exact technique, allows for a new relationship to be developed with the object during each interaction, making interaction an individual, accessible, and visceral experience as opposed to a studied, technical one.
DESIGN: Polyhedral frame with thin, polygon- shaped sheets of various materials suspended within the faces of the frame via mixed elastic materials. Strings made from various materials and densities are attached to and suspended between the polygonal surfaces at different tensions. Transducers are attached to any number of the polygonal surfaces, some of which are wired as contact microphones whose audio signals are fed into an audio mixing console and power amplifier. Each amplified audio signal is fed into one of many transducers wired as sound exciters, with the subsequent flow of acoustic and electric energy resulting in audible audio feedback loops propagated by a combination of acoustic energy passing through solid matter and amplified audio signal.
