Avant-Garde music for latex balloons

• Music Colloquium series 2016-2017

Speaker: Judy Dunaway

Venue: The Dome, Bramall Music Building (3rd Floor)

Abstract

For the past twenty-five years I have been creating sound works for latex balloons. I have created over thirty compositions for balloons, as well as making the balloon my main instrument for improvisation. Additionally I have created sound installations and multimedia works that utilize the sonic properties of latex balloons. While the idea itself is rooted in the philosophies of Cage and other early avant-garde movements, a feminist connection to the human body underlies my creative motivation. Creating a large body of work for balloons has allowed me to develop a vocabulary outside the realm of oppressive classical heritage. In this presentation I will discuss how I came to my artistic philosophy, the sociological context of this philosophy, and some of the instruments and works I have created, including my recent interactive works for latex balloons utilizing MaxMSP.

Reading

• Visions of Power and Influence: Hildegard von Bingen and the Politics of Mysticism by Lisa Elena Talley, The Student Historical Journal, Loyola University, 1996-1997, available at: http://www.loyno.edu/~history/journal/1996-7/Talley.html
• The Untold Story Behind The Legendary 'Topless Cellist' by Priscilla Frank, The Huffington Post, 2/22/2016, available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-avant-garde-pioneer-and-proto-fourth-wave-feminist-that-art-history-forgot_us_56c62c04e4b041136f165928
• "Fluxus" from The Art Story: Modern Art Insight, available at: http://www.theartstory.org/movement-fluxus.htm

Suggested listening/viewing

• George Maciunus: Solo for Balloons (1962).  Available at: https://youtu.be/pq0a317mk30
• Excepts of Charlotte Moorman performing John Cage's "26'11.14.99 for a String Player."  Available at: https://youtu.be/pq0a317mk30
• Mauricio Kagel: Acustica (1968).  Available at: https://youtu.be/UTZZca4UTHY
• David Bedford: Balloonmusic 1 (1973).  Available at: https://youtu.be/TBiyOzlzz9A
• Jonty Harrison: Hot Air (1995), from the CD Articles Indéfinis on the label Empreintes DIGITALes ‎- IMED 9627.