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S[around]OUND at The Troy Gasholder Building

Art + architecture+ music+ inflatables + projection = S[around]OUND

This sounds pretty cool. Art and architecture students from RPI's PIP(Production,Installation,Performance) class have collaborated on a performance art project that will be unveiled next month inside the Troy Gasholder building. S[around]OUND (Surround Sound) will combine art, architecture, animation, hybrid violin, computers and lifts to move the audience around inside the space.

We said it sounded cool.

Tyler Hopf is one of the architecture students who have been working with art students on the project since last year. With a budget of $10,000 and the help of installation artist and RPI Associate Professor of architecture, Michael Oatman and hybrid violinist Todd Reynolds, Hopf says the students created a unique audience experience.

"The point," says Hopf, "is for the audience to fully experience the unique aspect of this historic building and to create a work where they become a part of the performance."

The audience will experience the piece in three stages over 90 minutes. From the description on their Facebook Page:

In the first stage, viewers explore the Gasholder on the ground, and experience the acoustic wonder of the space. In the second stage viewers move upward into new contexts, and begin to hear Reynolds' signature improvised looping compositions. In the final stage, viewers are transported vertically and listen to new music several stories above ground, taking in a never before experienced view of this iconic Troy landmark.

Students looked at a variety of buildings for the event, including an empty pool and the Troy Atrium, but settled on the Gasholder building because it's such an iconic Troy building. They also appreciated the way the space was originally used. "The level of the gas in the space went up and down as the week went along," Hopf points out.

Hopf says the students wanted to create a work where the audience becomes a part of the performance and has an opportunity to change location and perspective throughout.

"We want people to have a completely unique performance experience and kind of question what performance is and question the relationship between performer and audience."

S[around] Sound is scheduled for Saturday, March 24th and Sunday, March 25th at 7:30 PM.
The event is free. Hopf says the space is large enough for several hundred people and audience members will take turns on the lifts, so everyone should have an opportunity to
get the full experience.