News

Chris is in Torbay from Monday 4th – 11th installing and opening ‘No Man’s Land’ at Berry Head for “The Tale”. You can read about this in Wired here.

AN ADVENTUROUS ARTS EVENT FOR EXPLORERS OF ALL AGES

The Tale unfolds across the stunning landscape of Torbay, South Devon this September.

A unique kind of arts trail, The Tale guides you on a journey of discovery around the coast of Torbay – from the streets of Torquay, through hidden coves & historic harbours of Brixham, to the quarry of Berry Head Nature Reserve.

Along the way you’ll encounter performances & installations from internationally acclaimed artists, created especially for Torbay.

‘Pull back the curtain on an art deco cinema, closed to the public for 25 years (Britt Hatzius). Immerse yourself in a 360-degree sound installation deep in a quarry, inspired by the sounds of the ocean (BBC sound artist Chris Watson). End your Tale at sunset, looking out upon a dance performance where the land meets the sea.’

Families welcome. Under 16s go free!

#taletorbay

Recommended reading by Jacob Smith at NorthWestern University (Illinois) –

The chance meeting of a goose and a plover on a turntable: Chris Watson’s wildlife sound recordings (pdf)

Jacob Smith also wrote “Eco-Sonic Media” (University of California Press, 2015):

The negative environmental effects of media culture are not often acknowledged: the fuel required to keep huge server farms in operation, landfills full of high tech junk, and the extraction of rare minerals for devices reliant on them are just some of the hidden costs of the contemporary mediascape. Eco-Sonic Media brings an ecological critique to the history of sound media technologies in order to amplify the environmental undertones in sound studies and turn up the audio in discussions of greening the media.

Art | Science | Listening | Collaboration
29 June – 2 July 2017
University of Hull

Sound + Environment 2017 is a four day conference bringing together artists and scientists to explore the ways that sound can deepen our understanding of environments. For example, recent developments in the field of ecoacoustics are proving fruitful in assessing ecosystem change. Sound is also increasingly used to monitor built structures and to inform urban design. We can use sound for scientific and artistic exploration, to inform and expand our knowledge of environments and our relationships to the world around us.

What can we learn from each other? Sound can inform a range of innovative interventions and solutions to problems. Through exploring scientific and artistic approaches together, we hope to engage with sound in order to create complementary ways of investigating, understanding, and taking action.

Sound + Environment 2017 aims to nurture meaningful collaborations which can generate new insights. The programme will feature paper sessions and panels; workshops; public performances; installations, and interventions.

Keynote speakers will include Chris Watson and Leah Barclay

soundenvironment.net/#Keynotes

Situations presents

The Tale: A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY ACROSS TORBAY

September 2017

A new type of arts event is coming to South Devon this September.

Chris will be presenting a brand new piece of work in Torbay, South Devon as part of The Tale. There will also be an opportunity to attend an artist’s talk and a sound artist masterclass with him.

The Tale will guide you on a journey of discovery around the coastal area of Torbay – from the streets of Torquay, through hidden coves and historic harbours, to the quarry of Berry Head Nature Reserve.

Along the way, you’ll encounter artworks and performances by artists of international acclaim, made especially for Torbay. Inspired by the ideas of writer Philip Hoare, whose boyhood experiences of Torbay shaped his future, The Tale offers the chance to experience the hidden stories, sounds and dreams of the bay like never before.

An adventurous arts event for explorers of all ages.

The Tale will take place over three long weekends in September: 8-10 Sept, 15-17 Sept, 22-24 Sept 2017.

Tickets: £15.00 – £22.50

Under 16s go free!

Booking and info: www.the-tale.co.uk

Image credit: Warren Orchard

The Tale is produced by Situations in association with organisations and groups across Torbay and is funded by Arts Council England through an Ambition for Excellence Award. We also gratefully acknowledge the support of the

Jerwood Charitable Foundation, Unlimited Impact, The Space, Ernest Cook Trust, Australia Council and Norwegian Arts Council.

…In which, as we enter a new year, our friends and collaborators look back on the past twelve months and share their moments;

Väinämöinen’s Wakes

“In the early 1980’s whilst I was exploring Northumberland for recording locations I discovered a book by Alfred Watkins, first published in 1925. The Old Straight Track, together with the collected works of Tom Lethbridge, gradually illuminated a pathway for me through the Borders landscape as I discovered for myself that intangible sense of spirit and place…”

www.caughtbytheriver.net/2017/01/01/field-recording-finland-akseli-gallen-kallela-lindisfarne-chris-watson-2/#more-122742