steve roden shells

steve roden shells, 2001 exhibition: transmissions festival, chicago, IL, august 2001 shells was created for the 4th annual transmissions festival in chicago. i was asked to create a site specific work for one of the front doors of the chopin theatre. the doors faced a very busy street, and the piece was created using the sounds of passing cars. the sounds were manipulated through fragmentation, looping, and pitch shifting, to resemble quiet bells or tones. these sounds were then played back through speakers attatched to the glass windows of the door. because of the loudness of the location, the viewer/listener would only be able to hear the installation by placing one's ear against the glass. the sound becomes a kind of fractured reflection of what is seen, and the experience is much like listening to something on headphones - an activity of intimacy - on a busy street with lots of noise. the attempt is to use the listening activity to create a sense of intimacy and private space. the title is a reference to the activity of listening to seashells by placing one's ear across the opening - a quiet activity of transportation.		home bio exhibition & performance history images discography interviews press contact