“Sonic Body: Sonic art happening to, by and for bodies”
Brandon LaBelle, Marcia Jane, Philip Samartzis, Bruce Mowson and James Hullick
1 Oct → 4 Oct 2008

The Sonic Body: Construction 1 exhibition is the first event in JOLT Arts Inc.’s ongoing series of presentations that explore sound as being generated by bodies, though bodies for bodies. In which ways might the articulation of a sound demand some kind of corresponding physical body or bodies? Our first offering here features a sono-interview based video work by USA conceptual sound artist Brandon La Belle, sound sculptures by Bruce Mowson and James Hullick, and a video and sound installation by Marcia Jane and Philip Samartzis. Each of these works, in their own unique way, make a contribution to the investigation of sound as a physical entity, which is a core and unifying activity of sound artists around the world today. Two concert style performances will also take place, the first on opening night (Thursday 2 October) will feature James Hullick and the second on the closing night (Saturday 4 October) will feature Philip Samartzis and Lizzie Pogson.

About the artists:

Brandon LaBelle (USA) is an artist and writer working with sound and auditory issues. He is the author of Background Noise: Perspectives on Sound Art (Continuum 2006), and Professor at the Bergen National Academy of the Arts, Norway.

Marcia Jane is a video and film artist based in Melbourne. Her interests lie in flickering, pulsating, rhythmic abstraction and audio-visual sensory experiences. Marcia lectures in visual art at Swinburne University and studies at RMIT’s School of Art. www.permutations.net ’we were subjected to Marcia Jane’s flickering videos, apparently designed to make the eyes bleed’, John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald 2008

Philip Samartzis internationally acclaimed electro-acoustic maestro and teacher to many of Melbourne’s most successful sound artists through his work at RMIT. His current practice is dominated by the use of field recordings as source material for sonic works. www.microphonics.org. ‘One of the leading lights of Australian experimental music’, Rare Frequency 2006

Bruce Mowson is a Melbourne based sound and video artist. He has conducted research into the phenomenon of absorption in audio-visual media though a series of exhibitions and performances and teaches at RMIT University. www.brucemowson.com

James Hullick is an installation artist, composer, pianist and electro sound-artist. Hullick is also Artistic Director for JOLT. www.jameshullick.com

About JOLT Arts Inc. JOLT, artistically directed by James Hullick, provides an event management structure for many artists delivering provocative public outcomes. There is an emphasis on showcasing emerging practitioners. In 2007, the JOLT concert series provided employment to over thirty sound and visual artists involving performances here and overseas. The success of this series, which was run on a conservative budget, was the birthplace of JOLT Inc. in 2008. After unanticipated stellar gallery-based success in New York, JOLT will present another further shows in Melbourne: Sonic Body at Westspace in Rocktober and Wigga at Shifted Gallery in November. JOLT will be following on from these events with the massive multimedia robotic experience that is THE NIS to be presented in 2009.

See JOLT website for details at www.joltarts.org

Opening: Thursday 2 October 6 – 8pm Performance by James Hullick 7pm (no entry fee)

Closing: Saturday 4 October 5pm Performances by Philip Samartzis & Lizzie Pogson ($5 entry fee)