'Array' a sound sculpture and installation by Steve McPherson for the B-Side Arts and Media Festival 2012. Weymouth and Portland, Dorset. Part of the Maritime mix 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Sound samples collected during exploratory field recording visits to Weymouth and Portland are combined to create three soundscapes that are drenched with the acoustic signatures of the area.

Array 1(scarred by storm-built by man) - influenced by visiting, drawing, photographing and sound recording in the Verne High Angle Battery of the Isle of Portland. The title is taken from a text 'cut up' created during field trips to Dorset as part of the residency for the b-side festival.

Array 2 (Who walked here) - Sounds taken from visits to Nothe fort and hill create a conversation of codes blending natural and man-made modes of communication. The title is taken from a dedication situated on a bench on Nothe Hill. 

Array 3 (choking island -shining sea) - the view of Portland appearing and disappearing in sea mist and fog echo its mysterious naval architecture, as grey crag and carved cliff emerge from sparkling seas. The title of the piece is taken from a text/prose created whilst sitting on Chesil beach watching sea fog engulfing the isle of Portland during my final residency for the commission. 

Using hand held dynamo power to emanate rather than receive sound. The tripodic sculptural works takes inspiration from, yet invert the idea of, acoustic field receivers and locators of the early to mid 20th century. 

http://b-sidearray.blogspot.co.uk/



Array

Commissioned for the BBC Radio 3 series, Between The Ears, this sound piece reflects on voice, memory and loss. The sound work takes the form of an audio memoir or reverie, based on over four decades of recordings of my mother’s voice.  The programme explores not only my personal relationship with my mother’s voice , but also our common desire to record and keep, and the particular qualities of recorded voice as distinct from the photographic record. 
The programme was produced in Bristol by Chris Ledgard. 

Array 1(scarred by storm-built by man)

STEVE MCPHERSON

Related tracks