LA Observed

Howard Rheingold describes attention as a literacy. The author of The Virtual Community and other books explains that the ability to focus your attention - with intention - is a contemporary skill, an idea ably demonstrated by the subtle and provocative film/performance Transparent Cities taking place at the Hammer Museum tonight. A collaborative effort of Madison Brookshire, April Guthrie, Michael Pisaro and Cassia Streb, the site-specific project unites sustained, unmoving shots of Los Angeles locations with audio captured in the city, and then adds a layer of music that is performed live, weaving in and around the captured material in a sometimes delicate, sometimes dense mix. The goal of the project must be, at least in part, to give busy Angelenos an experience of reflection as we watch the nearly imperceptible gradations of light throughout a day, and notice the beauty of everyday noises and their unexpected harmonies - a sprinkler sounds like a snare drum, for example. Pondering these nearly still images and listening to the city in new ways is indescribably pleasurable. You'll find yourself slowing down, settling in and then opening up to the remarkable audio/visual experience around us all the time. As a follow-up, the artists will discuss multidisciplinary collaboration and site-specific performance on Sunday, April 26.
the details:
Transparent Cities Performance
Hammer Museum, Thursday, April 23, 7:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion: Sunday, April 26, 10:30 a.m.