WAVE
WAVE is a silent, animated video work expressing gratitude and solidarity with essential workers, created in the first months of the pandemic by G.O.N.G. (Gathering of Noetic Generation)–a multidisciplinary group of S.O.U.R.C.E. collaborators.
The concept for WAVE formed during a call with artist Mel Chin and a number of artists who have previously collaborated with the Fundred Project and Mel Chin Studio. The call took place early in the pandemic, just as Mel was invited by Times Square Arts to create a time-based piece as a part of a citywide public art campaign honoring essential workers. Ideas for the project were bounced around, inspiration growing and the conversation’s dynamic shifting as artist and designer Naoko Wowsugi played the gong over the video call. The group began to examine the relationship between visuals and sound, considering the role cymatics could play in developing the piece to be displayed in one of the most bustling landmarks in New York City. Once the collective established the significance of portraying the ties between video, audio, words and the body, they seized the opportunity in the moment to share a message.
WAVE, the video work created by G.O.N.G., was shown in Times Square as part of Messages for the City. The campaign organized by Times Square Arts, Poster House, Print Magazine, and For Freedoms featured artist-designed PSAs and messages of love, appreciation and solidarity with New York City’s healthcare and essential workers.
WAVE is a convergence of science and art that broadcast heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifices made by those on the frontlines, while recognizing those enduring painful loss. Words of appreciation honored these individuals with poetry in widely used languages (English, Chinese, Russian, Creole, Spanish), translated to cymatic (visible sound) imagery, expanding this intention beyond the limitation of words. Representing vibrations as moving patterns, the cymatic videos pulse like heartbeats, connecting the words to the body.
In addition to 2019 MacArthur Fellow Mel Chin (Egypt, NC), G.O.N.G. includes Jacob Brault (Athens, GA), visual artist; Pat Clifford (Cincinnati, OH), social worker and consultant for community-based organizations and collaboratives; Fabiola R Delgado (Washington, DC), museum professional and independent curator; Maps Glover (Washington, DC), performer, painter, multi-media artist; Dawne Langford (NYC / Washington, DC), independent documentary producer and curator/founder of Quota Arts; Ben Premeaux (Charlotte, NC), artist and filmmaker at The smARTlab media; Michael Angelo Rodriguez (Washington, DC), artist working with photography and poetry; Amanda Wiles (Marshall, NC), artist and director of Fundred Project and S.O.U.R.C.E. Studio; Elijah Williamson (Washington, DC), artist and designer; Naoko Wowsugi (Washington, DC), conceptual artist and faculty at American University.
Photos courtesy Time Square Arts.