|  Synesthetics Art and  |
|    Technology Fest     |


(Warp date: October, 1993)
Synesthetics was an experiment in multi-sensory interactive high-technology art. The show featured musical and visual artists utilizing both cutting-edge and home-brew technologies. Presented at Washington Performance Hall with the assistance of On The Boards Artist Access Program, Synesthetics transformed a conventional theater setting into an explorable experience of sight, sound, and movement.

Producers: Steve Macatee, Bob Moses

Technical Director: Steve Turnidge

Lighting Director: Chad Taylor

Sound: Sam Maynard

Art Director: Jose Luis Flores

Box Office & Ushers: Michele Alston 


|  The Sounds  |
As audience members entered the space, the floor shook with the sounds of a digital thunderstorm. Amey Mazurek accompanied on didgeridoo, her sounds being cast about the room through an eight-speaker surround-sound system controlled by the data glove of dancer Lucinda Hughey.

Digitally recorded electronic music The Trans Aural Surround Capsule sent fresh electronic sounds cascading across the room as audience members danced.

Interactive garage performance art was provided by The Same as audience members played "musical trees" in the performance area.

Bret Battey performed live, algorithmic, improvised computer music, pounding the audience with raw-edged sounds of machines, distorted choirs, and percussion.

James Cobb provided ambient transitions , easing the audience between experiences with computer-assisted electronic performance.

The Toney Baird Band completed the show with polished performances of electronic rock originals. 




|  The Sights  |
Zoetrons by Steve Hawks mesmerized audience members as physical objects were animated on an endlessly spinning strobed disk.

Video and computer graphics projections by Julius Brown & Steve Hawks were generated and mixed in real-time to accompany the musical performances.

High-resolution computer-generated art by Craig Rosenberg graced the perimeter of the space.

56 seats were wired with "mind machines" by Stephan Schier. Mind machines are glasses wired with lights that flash in patters, creating kaleidoscopic patterns in your mind by stimulating your brain waves with light pulses. The mind machines were controlled by the live music performances for a tightly integrated mind/body experience.

Computer controlled Intelabeam lights programmed by Chad Taylor cast patterns across the room in response to a pointing a data glove.
For further information on Synesthetics Art and Technology Fest please email: brane@ix.netcom.com