Bassist and composer James Ilgenfritz (2011 AIR) returns to ISSUE, joined by Joe McPhee and AC Diamond for their first performance as a trio. This event marks a new shared context for three artists deeply invested in improvisation as a mode of inquiry.
ISSUE presents the premiere of three audiovisual compositions by Matt Mottel (2010 AIR). These works bring Mottel’s distinct artistic sensibility into dialogue with formative figures in his life and in New York’s avant-garde, tracing a lineage that is both deeply personal and central to ISSUE’s history.
Monarch Butterfly by rocío sánchez (2026 AIR) features Melissa Almaguer (tap dance and percussion) and Kenneth Jiménez (double bass). Together, the trio explores the elusive monarch’s migratory journey through sound and movement, with each instrument articulating distinct states of motion.
Isabella Thorpe-Woods presents "Envelop/e," her second program as ISSUE’s 2026 Suzanne Fiol Curatorial Fellow. Bringing together choreographers Jade Manns and Ella Dawn W-S for site-specific duets, they navigate presence and absence, repetition and rupture, and the tension between inherited geometries and shifting landscapes.
"Spiriting Off" is a new solo work by luthier Webb Crawford (2026 AIR) for electric guitar, tenor banjo, and five-string banjo.
ISSUE closes the summer season with the return of Matana Roberts (2009 AIR). Opening the evening, Ben Vida (2013 AIR) will perform music from his 2026 release, "Oblivion Seekers" with vocalist Sara Magenheimer.
International Festival of Text-Sound Poetry
Charles Bernstein speaks on the history of PennSound, the web's largest archive of digital poetry recordings, with some close listening included. Through the consideration of Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, a talk by Erin Morrill explores the de-automatization of listening practices via a Dadaist mindset.
SOLD OUT! Renowned composer, instrument builder and Fluxus artist Yoshi Wada reprises performances of his early 70s work “Earth Horns with Electronic Drone”. Wada performs on four original “pipe horn” instruments with an ensemble of NY players, and is accompanied on organ and electronics by his son composer Tashi Wada.
AMPLIFY 2015: Exploratory
Horn improvisor/composer Anne Guthrie and Austin-based composer/violist Vanessa Rossetto play their first collaboration. Tokyo-based composer Taku Unami performs with the object-oriented Devin DiSanto, also a first-time duo. Kevin Drumm and Jason Lescalleet combine their expansive sounds for a surely epic closing set.
AMPLIFY 2015: Exploratory
The second night of Amplify 2015 sees first time duo performances by Michael Pisaro with Ben Owen, and Graham Lambkin with Taku Unami. Olivia Block and Jason Lescalleet present a collaborative composition for inside grand piano, amplified objects and real-time processing.
AMPLIFY 2015: Exploratory
AMPLIFY 2015 opens with a night of three duos. Chicago-based composer Olivia Block and NYC turntablist Maria Chavez play for the first time together. Exploratory percussionist Sean Meehan and Tokyo's Taku Unami, as well as LA-based composer Michael Pisaro and sound artist Graham Lambkin reprise their collaborations.
Artist/filmmaker Madison Brookshire presents a piece for solo guitar featuring Che Chen, and a multimedia ensemble work. Francesco Gagliardi stages a series of acoustic performances for manipulated objects, handmade and found. Paula Matthusen crosses field recordings and improv featuring recorder player Terri Hron.
A series of new works investigate intersections of tape and live performance, and composition with improvisation. A “portrait” combines real-time performance and pre-arranged recordings as a subjective homage. Another piece is built from acoustic recordings of Columbia's electronically-defunct RCA Mark II Synthesizer.
Artists-In-Residence 2015
Lea Bertucci explores the sonic qualities of a decrepit alto sax uncovered from Bradley Eros' basement, with a live collage of 35mm slide and 16mm film projections by Eros. Anthony Saunders, of seminal harsh noise group Bastard Noise, performs with Bertucci on bass clarinet, celebrating the duo's first cassette.