8 PM

Sound and Video Installation

by

Michael J. Schumacher, sound

Ursula Scherrer, video

9 PM

Performances

featuring

Janek Schaefer

Taylor Deupree

Tim Barnes and Michael J. Schumacher

about the artists:

Tim Barnes (b.1967) makes noise for a living. He is a sound designer and percussionist in NYC. His manipulations of sound have invaded millions of American homes without anyone even knowing. As a percussionist and performer for almost 20 years, he has collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including Jim O'Rourke, Tony Conrad, Neil Hagerty, avant-folk group Tower Recordings, Ikue Mori, Dean Roberts, Nagisa Ni te, Ira Cohen and Charles Curtis. Over the past three years, Tim has released for the first time the lost recordings of pioneering percussionist Angus MacLise through his label Quakebasket (see http://www.quakebasket.com for more details). His drum duo record with Chicago percussionist Glenn Kotche, "domoodomo", topped many critics' list for 2000. Most recently, Barnes has recorded his first solo percussion record, entitled "All Acoustics". His solo and duo performances prior to this recording have been primarily electro-acoustic based, but through his performances with both Oren Ambarchi and Michael Schumacher last month, Barnes has begun revisiting the space of acoustic sound generators.

Taylor Deupree, composer and head of New York's 12k label, has prepared a unique sound set exclusively for his performance at the Diapason Gallery on August 4th. Utilizing a powerbook and a surface controller, Taylor will be mixing a series of 8 second loops to create an improvised 40 minute piece. The majority of the loops are separated freqency ranges from one base file. Mixed together they form the complete file where the freqencies fade in and out over time. The source of the loop comes from a noise hiss treated with granular synthesis algorithms. The result is a light, sibiliant wash of tickling static. Because the sounds have been isolated into 8 second loops, the careful listener will be able to discern patterns and repetitions within the subtle clicks and nuances of the static, thus creating a rhythmic, hypnotic and relaxing soundfield. This piece, as yet untitled, is part of an extended project for installations in an anechoic chamber.

Janek Schaefer was born in England to Polish and Canadian parents in 1970 and graduated in architecture at the Royal College of Art in 1996. As a sound artist and musician his most notable work has been the invention of the Tri-Phonic1 and Twin1 turntables, alongside the exploration of new experimental Eccentric1 and Fragmented1 vinyl cutting techniques. His Recorded Delivery1 project sent a sound activated dictaphone through the post for an installation organised in a self storage centre in London. He has released CD's and records for Fat Cat [UK], K-raa-K3 [Belgium], Hot Air [UK], and Diskono [Scotland] and is currently working on a new solo album for Sub Rosa [Belgium]. He also formed a duo with Robert Hampson in 1999 called Comae1 whose debut release is due out on Rhiz records [Vienna] this year. Schaefer has toured widely performing live Foundsoundscapes1 composed from the evocative, emotive and dynamic layering of abstracted textures and tones culled from ancient vinyl and manipulated field recordings. Janek was selected as 'Sound Designer of the Year' by Creative Review Magazine [UK] in 1999 and was awarded an 'Honorary Mention' at the Ars Electronica Festival [Austria] in 2001 for his album 'Above Buildings'. He works and lives in London.

Ursula Scherrer was born in Switzerland and has been living in New York City since 1988. She danced with several choreographers, as well as choreographing her own work. She started to photograph in 1993 and has shown her work in the U.S., Switzerland and Mexico. She won a Prize in the International Photography Contest of Austin, Texas. She began working with video in 1997. Her work has been shown at various venues, Strange Attractors II, 2nd International Festival of Experimental Intermedia Art, St. Paul/USA, 9e Biennale de l'Image en Mouvement, Saint-Gervais Geneve/Switzerland, Diapason, New York City/USA, GAIe Gates etal., Brooklyn/USA, Red Room, Baltimore/USA, Experimental Intermedia Gent, Gent/Belgium, among others.

Michael Schumacher is a composer of electronic sound installations using 2 - 16 speakers, computer-controlled random structures; of acoustic music realizing advanced formal schemes; of taped and live music (also improvised) for prepared electric guitar, synthesizer, etc. He has composed two piano sonatas, numerous shorter works for piano solo, chamber music, songs, and orchestral music. He studied music at Indiana University and the Juillard School of Music. Born in Washington, D.C., he has lived in New York City since 1983. SchumacherÕs works have been performed in the United States, Europe and Asia. He has presented sound installations at The Kitchen, Experimental Intermedia, at the Technical University in Berlin, and at La Monte Young and Marian ZazeelaÕs Dream House, among other places. He has received grants from the New Jersey Council on the Arts, Meet the Composer, and Harvestworks. He has performed and recorded with the cellist Charles Curtis, guitarist Donald Miller, and with Stephen Tunney on Shimmy Disc Records. In 1996 he founded, with Ursula Scherrer, Studio Five Beekman, a multi-media art gallery which has presented installations by David Behrman, David First, Alvin Lucier, Phill Niblock, Matt Rogalsky, and others.