I am really excited about An Audio Guide to Varo’s ‘Harmony’. I have finished reading the out-of-print book I bought (Unexpected Journeys, by Janet Kaplan) and have discovered that a good number of Varo’s other paintings also involve music being generated from strange objects, such as strands of hair being bowed. Most excitingly, her last unfinished work involved a figure playing a slice of tree trunk on a wind-powered record-player device. I know this has recently sort-of been done by Bartholomäus Traubeck http://traubeck.com/years/ but he was using a camera and translating the patterns into music samples on a computer. I think I would like to build one that’s entirely mechanical, like the one in the drawing. Maybe this is the start of a longer project creating performances based on each of her music-based paintings? I’ve also just figured out that next year is the 50th anniversary of her death, and so it would seem appropriate to make something of this. I have been in touch with DACS to acquire permission to use a digital slide of ‘Harmony’ in the actual performance, and they are checking with the Estate. I really hope they agree: the work is increasingly about celebrating this painting, with the more research I do, and it would be great for the audience to be able to see a good quality reproduction.
I have started to buy items for the set, including 5 metal rods to form the staves (see photo). I got these from a DIY superstore, which usually seems to be the source of my art materials. I have also bought some flame-retardent spray for proofing my set, which is not something I’ve had to do for my own work before. It feels pretty professional…
Also, I’ve sent off my contract with the venue I am hoping to use in Edinburgh for Hear a Pin Drop Here. I can’t submit the show to the Fringe programme until I have received a signed contract back, and the absolute deadline is the 11th. Still, I have now set up a basic website (awaiting most of its content) http://www.hearapindrophere.com and have bought 600 pins (that’s the standard size of the box: I’m not being extravagant).
