Whether viewing a show home or walking along the river Dart, from now until May 2016, visitors to the Baltic Wharf boatyard in Totnes, Devon, will find they have also arrived at a ‘non-religious pilgrimage site’ – the location of Juneau Projects‘ latest public commission.
Saw Waves is a new song, composed by the artist duo on their self-made instruments in collaboration with artist and musician Joseph Welden. Inspired by the journeys made by river pilots, the song has been made available to the public at two purpose-made download points that take inspiration from roadside shrines.
The work has been commissioned by Baltic Wharf Arts as part of a wider programme of site-specific commissions. These will take place during the redevelopment of the historic boatyard and its 26 acres of riverside that will see new housing, a retirement home, a café, play areas and artist studios as the process ‘open[s] up riverside access to the public’.
Juneau Projects’ installation and sound piece was developed through conversations with river pilots, basing the song lyrics on their experiences of guiding ships with timber cargoes to the drop-off point at Reeves’ Timber Yard, following their journey from the Baltic.
Positioning the ‘download points’ in view of the dockyard and the new developments, the artists are asking the public to bring a USB stick with them to download an mp3 file of the song, thereby transforming the audience’s journey into one of purpose and labour.
The project was launched at Drift Records on Totnes High Street, where a number of special edition USB sticks are also available to buy. The artists performed the song live on their custom-built instruments, constructed by recycling arcade machine buttons and joysticks housed within bodies of laser cut perspex and ply.
‘A thousand miles from North Finland to Totnes
Bad weather delays, waiting
Waiting in the dark for the boat’s lights to appear
It’s very cold, the sky is bright with the stars
We grit our teeth and wait for ships to come near
Timber sails here
Saw waves’
(Verse One, Saw Waves)
Juneau Projects, Saw Waves continues at Baltic Wharf Arts until May 2016. The special edition USB drives and map of the download points are available from Drift Records, 103 High Street, Totnes, Devon.
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