Good Vibrations

Good Vibrations is a multi-sensory environment created specifically for the MCA’s Bella Program for Youth with Specific Needs. This unique art installation of vibration, light, colour and sound is housed in a modified caravan outside the galleries, on the front lawn of the MCA.

Two New York-based artists, composer and sound artist Bruce Odland and interactive designer and new media artist Michael Luck Schneider are at the MCA for an Artists in Residency project for Bella in October 2006. Known for their innovative work with sound and tactile environments, often in collaboration with other artists or communities, this is the artists’ first artwork in Australia.

In October and early November, the artists and MCA staff journey in a vintage caravan fitted out with tactile interfaces and specially designed interactive technology on Outreach to six different schools from Emu Plains to Manly. The artists are working with local children with a wide spectrum of disabilities collect, selecting and recording sound grabs and visual images from their surroundings to contribute to the artwork. Good Vibrations then returns to the MCA to be interacted with by Sydney visitors; an immersive and engaging experience for education audiences and the general public.

Good Vibrations is the first International Artist in Residence project developed for Bella, connecting children with disabilities with high-profile international artists.

Follow the Good Vibrations journey on the project weblog: mcagoodvibrations.org.au

Information on the Good Vibrations artists

Bruce Odland

Bruce Odland is a sound artist, composer, philosopher, poet and producer renowned for developing and realising ambitious projects using cutting-edge technologies. Based in upstate New York, he has created interactive sonic and multimedia installations in public spaces since 1976, and is active in theatre, film, exhibitions and festivals internationally. He often works collaboratively; Elevated Harmonies (2006) realised with long-time collaborator and fellow sound artist Sam Auinger (as O+A) was presented in October this year at the Ear to the Earth Festival in New York. In 1998 he installed a permanent sound art installation for the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) which transforms ambient traffic noise into harmonious overtone series. His projects have been featured at Ars Electronica; New Music America; The Salzburg Festival, Foundation Maeght in Nice and the Sonambiente Festival in Berlin. His pioneering work in sound design for theatre has led to collaborations with many of America’s leading directors, and he is currently working on the sound direction of the Wooster Group’s new production of La Didone by Francesco Cavalli, to be premiered in early 2007.

www.bruceodland.com
www.o-a.info
www.eartotheearth.org

Michael Luck Schneider

Michael Luck Schneider is a new media artist and interactive designer based in New York. He’s a founding member of motohoho, a group of artists and designers who use network technology to create artistic portals connecting people to the world. Recent projects include Rock My Chair (2006), an interactive installation of networked rocking chairs which emit different parts of a melody according to their movement. The work was presented in August 2006 at the San Jose Museum of Art in Zero One, during the International Symposium of Electronic Arts. BuzGlo (2004-2005) was an interactive rehabilitation space designed for children with profound disabilities at the Terrence Cardinal Cooke Center in New York City.
Michael Luck Sc