The Conversations

Southern Exposure Gallery, SF, 2004 (30th Anniversary Show)

Collaboration with Steve Wright

For the duration of the exhibition, a digitally activated player piano was located in the gallery directly connected to the three business phone lines in the Southern Exposure office. Whenever anyone in the office made or received a call, the piano "played" the conversation(s) live. The algorithm that translated the conversation(s) into music was designed to sensitively reflect the particular auditory personality of each caller, thus maintaining the basic emotive qualities of the speakers. The piano reflects and foregrounds the ongoing stream of personal networking that drives the context for the exhibition itself. In this way the gallery staff, going about their daily business, become the engine for the work.