Saturday, September 9th, Byron Westbrook continues his ISSUE residency with “Threshold Variations,” an immersive environment expanding on the techniques of “Interval/Habitat” presented at Westbrook’s previous residency commission in April, 2017. “Threshold Variations” revisits the experimental staging of “Interval/Habitat,” but focuses more directly on the synaesthetic play between light amplitude and sound volume in relation to the audience’s thresholds of perception.
Working within mostly low lighting in a resonant space, “Threshold Variations” uses static textural sounds, sonic impulses and environmental recordings in conjunction with lighting transitions to posit a dynamic relationship between the perception of the present vs external, imagined spaces.
The audience is invited to navigate the environment while listening and meandering through this transitory space. Presence and density of audience in this unstable environment are collaborative aspects of the work, allowing for emergent dynamics of intimacy and awareness.
The performance-as-installation runs from 7 to 10pm. Space is limited. Attendees are encouraged to arrive at any time during the duration of the piece, as well as move throughout the space, enter, and exit freely.
Byron Westbrook is an artist and musician based in Brooklyn, NY. He has been performing and showing experimental sound work internationally since 2008. His work focuses on dynamics of perception using sound, lighting and video to interact with architecture and landscape, often pursuing routes that involve social engagement. He holds an MFA from the Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts at Bard College, where he studied with Marina Rosenfeld, Marcus Schmickler and David Behrman. His work has been presented at Walker Art Center (Minneapolis), ICA London, Cafe OTO (London), Fridman Gallery, Abrons Arts Center, Pioneer Works, Experimental Intermedia Foundation (NY), Human Resources (Los Angeles), Disjecta (Portland, OR), Instants Chavires Art Space (Paris), Fylkingen (Stockholm), the LAB (San Francisco), among many others. He has recorded releases with Root Strata, Los Discos Enfantasmes and Sedimental Records. He has previously been in residence at Civitella Ranieri Foundation, Clocktower Gallery, Diapason Gallery, and EMS Stockholm.
