Bee Society: A Global Touring Sound Installation

As part of our commitment to GlobalGiving it is a requirement to send updates once every 90 days.  We promised in our last report to detail information about the most recent exhibition that took place at University College Florida (UCF) from Jul 22, 2016 - Aug 26, 2016. Some significant developments were undertaken on both the exhibition and education program.

We were able to use a portion of the funding that we had secured through the GlobalGiving platform to buy 9 mogees microphones (one for each corridor).  Mogees are gestural contact microphones, where gestures such as scratches, taps, strikes, or hits can be assigned to trigger audio samples.  This made the installation even more dynamic in installation mode and provided an opportunity for a number of unique performances.

A live installation, curatorial panel discussion, bee society forum, artist talk, two planned performances alongside one impromptu performance all formed part of the Progeny exhibition and cultural educational program.  We believe the program provided rich and varied opportunities for people to interact with the installation and to learn more about community interaction and the environment.  Over eleven volunteers and five employees helped to install the work.   The program ran as follows:

LIVE INSTALLATION WITH THE ARTISTS  | July 13, 2016 – July 29^th, 2016

EXHIBITION | Jul 29th, 2016 - Aug 26, 2016.

BEE SOCIETY FORUM  | August 24th 2:00-4:00pm
Doug McGinnis talks about how flowers taught bees to be vegetarian, functions of bee society and the super organism.

ARTIST TALK  | August 25th 4:00-5:00pm

CLOSING RECEPTION | 5:00-7:00pm

EVERY ROOM HAS A SOUND  | August 26th5:00-7:00pm 2016
A discussion on sound, architecture and interdisciplinary collaboration with special guests Colin Ripley, Thad Anderson, Allen Waters and Yulia Tikhonova.

FOUR4 – IN THE HIVE  | August 26^th 7:00-8:30pm 2016
UCF Percussion presents a 74 minute performance of John Cage’s Four4 (1991) performed within the Progeny Installation.

PERFORMANCE: TAP DANCE FROM SOUTH BEACH ACADEMY | August 27^th 3:00pm – 5:00pm 2016

PERFORMANCE: A CAPPELLA FROM KEY HARMONY | August 30^th 3:00pm – 5:00pm 2016

Moving forwards

• A particular highlight of the exhibition was the performance of John Cage’s Four4 (1991). We are currently working with a filmmaker to produce documentation for this.
• We have submitted a funding bid with the Graham Foundation (based in Chicago).  If successful, we would look to do a third exhibition and education program in 2017

We are both grateful for the support each donor has given to our project, enabling us to produce the work and to undertake two exhibitions.  We are also very appreciative to those who continue to contribute regularly.   We believe our unique sound installation is an inspiring space for public interaction, artistic collaboration and education.  We would be very grateful if you can let others know about our work and/or if you are able to contribute in any way.

Thank you for your continued support.

We wish you our very best,

Luke and Bryce

 
The Progeny Project

Progeny is an indoor interactive architectural sound installation modeled after a Langstroth beehive. The artists/curators have figuratively become beekeepers, transporting the structure measuring 24 x 24 x 9 ft on a flatbed truck. Through public engagement, performance and collaboration an opportunity is presented for an audience to evolve, learn, adapt and interact.

The project is the result of three years of research and partnership, working in concert with the agricultural community, structural engineers and sound experts.

Progeny is designed whereby every unit is constructed using 4’ x 8’ frames, including walls and flooring. Ten independent walls create nine narrow corridors 24 ft in length.  The narrow width of each corridor compels close public interaction.  The space above the walls is designed without a joining ceiling. 32 contact microphones and 9 intelligent microphones under the flooring of the structure pick up the vibrations of people’s footsteps.  These, alongside 16 microphones within the walls, transmit sound to 36 speakers throughout the installation.

Emulating the systematic migratory procession beekeepers undertake carrying up to 400 hives on flatbed trucks to temporary locations, this travelling time-based work explores the point at which an artwork is ready for the viewer.  Progeny’s journey from one location to another is as much part of the work as when it is assembled for public exhibition. It is neither stationary in its physical or intellectual state, constantly evolving through travel and through the communities it interacts with. This journey is documented by film and online media and forms part of future exhibitions.

In location, Progeny becomes an instrument or a platform for public interaction and artistic collaboration, providing unique opportunities for the audience to experience and engage with the work.

The project includes an education program that encourages children and adults to care for our natural environment, and which also explores the theme of community by using bee society as a comparative model.

Links:

• Website
• UCF Website

• Press Release for Progeny Program (PDF)
  

As part of our membership to GlobalGiving we are required to send out a message to previous donors every three months.  This is a quick message to let you know that we will be sending you a report in the near future.  The report will give information about our most recent exhibition in August/September which took place at University College Florida.

The exhibition and accompanying educational program were a great success! Once we have compliled photographs, videos and audio we will be sure to send you a summary.  In the mean time you can keep up with latest developments at https://www.facebook.com/progenyproject/

We are most grateful for your support.

Our best,

Luke and Bryce.

Links:

• UCF Gallery Page