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Clackamas Print
Arts Culture
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009
Sound and breath unite in art
Kayla Calloway
The Clackamas Print
“It took several weeks,”
said Senn. “But, it was built
from previous works, so it’s
probably a couple years of
work in the making.”
Students buzzed about the
»'exhibit after the lecture, say
ing it is unique. •
Katie Spittle, a’student who
attended the lecture, found
it interesting, although she
couldn’t hear the recorded
noises.
“I could feel the vibrations,”
said Spittle.
Spittle also commented on
how, visually, the piece was
stimulating, and how it didn’t
rely on either the sound or the
sight by itself.
During the lecture, Senn
also talked about some of his
past pieces. One such piece
was called “Uncovered States.”
The piece includes one sub
woofer speaker, wire, and
sticks. The speaker generates
low frequencies that bounce
the wire and the sticks, which
hit small metal disks, causing
The most recent exhibit
in the Alexander Gallery has
caused a stir. The sonic sculp
tor has some people scratching
their heads in confusion, but
artist Dan Senn says it takes .
some time to fully understand.
“Take a look,” said Senn,
during his lecture in the art
center on Thursday, Feb. 12.
According to Senn, most
people fail to spend enough
time observing the artwork.
Observing, in this case, does
not mean only staring at the
piece, but listening to the
canned sound of Senn’s breath
ing played on a constant loop.
The piece itself is of several
black pipes with white garbage
bags on the end. The record
ings inflate the bags, giving
the effect that the pieces are
breathing. This was an innova
tion of an earlier installation
of Senn’s in Prague, which was
just one part of a multi-piece
exhibit, titled “Den Homiku,”
which took place in an old
mining building.
Senn’s contributions to
the exhibit were old rubber
boots that hung from the ceil
ing.'White garbage bags were
placed at the boots’ openings
and “breathed” like the current
piece at the Niemeyer.
The piece on display was In the Alexander Gallery, the room is filled with the sound of artist Dan Senn’s breathing,
built in November of this past recorded and played in a continuous loop. White garbage bags and sound are recuring pieces
of Senn’s artworks, this one is titled “Twisted Pairs Expanding.”
year.
sound.
All of Senn’s works ij
sounds.
“I am first a coma
said Senn.
In addition to art,
composes and records j
Recently, he finished a
that debuted in New
City.
Senn travels acrost
nation giving lectures t
art and work. He offers<
to students, including ma
ing in his lecture that E
is a better environment
artist.
“I believe strongly j
ducing lots of bad art,1
Senn, another piece of)
for up and coming artist
The exhibit is in thea
lery at the Niemeyer,
will be running throt
the rest of February ai
March.
Because of the soun
duced by the piece, tk
is closed. If you wish to
the exhibit, please conti
Art Department. The exit
is 2386.
See this exhibit
the Alexander
Gallery in the
Niemeyer Cent
until March 21
Budget cuts threatei
coastal history class
Jess Sheppard
| Arts & Culture Editor
Contributed Photo
Last spring the coast class spent part of their Newport trip at Boiler Bay watching the water
for whales and the skies for bald eagles.
Below: On the Spring 2008 trip to Newport, Bown’s coast class had the opportunity to see
this group of harbor seals resting at Yaquina Head. Without this class and others like it,
students will lose the chance to see the native Oregon wildlife they are learning about up
close and in their natural habitats.*
Contributed Photo
With the onset of the budget crisis, it seems an ima
axe is looming over many classes, and its shadow has no
unnoticed by student’s.
One class that is under the threat of the proverbial
ping block is science instructor Jennifer Bown’s History
Oregon Coast. It’s one of Clackamas’ diversity classes,
other weekend is a trip to a part of the Oregon Coast,i
once per week lecture on the places visited.
“You have to have furi classes, or people lose interest
student Lane Locke.
But, more than just being a fun and engaging class,!
and several other students agree on its academic value.
“This is biology, ecology, oceanography and geolog
class and you get everything,” said Kyla Bandasith, a
student in the coast class.
“I’ve lived most of my life here, and this is the mos
ever learned about the Coast,” added Melissa Major, yeti
er student of the class.
According to Karen K. Kruse, still another stude
Bown’s coast class, “Courses like this are foundations."
But unfortunately, the current crisis in the budget, pt
threat to the History of the Oregon Coast class and other!
es like it. The .shadow of that intangible axe has some st#
speaking out in their course’s defense.
“This class is one of only a few diversity classes«!
take. The others (regular biology classes) are boring,"
Bandasith.
“Someone who lives here should know this stuff,"
Major. “It could save your life. Now we know not to si
algae.” x
“Keeping this class will give an opportunity to find!
out about Oregon,” said Locke.
Bown shares her students’ eagerness to keep not
History of the Oregon Coast, but other courses like it,’
offer an experience outside the normal science class.
“These diversity classes are what make us unique®
other community colleges,” said Bown.
“We’re actually going to the places we’re learning!
instead of a regular biology class,” , said Locke.
Bandasith, in particular, is hopeful that thè course»
be cut.
“If they get rid of this class, they won’t get any morel
tuition money,” said Bandasith vehemently.