Field Sound - Douglas Moffat & Steve Bates
As Field Sound, Steve Bates and Douglas Moffat bring together backgrounds in visual art, experimental music and landscape architecture to collaborate on outdoor audio installations. Our working methods combine research and site-specific investigation with an ear for fascinating sonic potentials. Over multiple projects, the physical form, experience of site and cultural context are blended together to form multi-sensory installations that reward repeated visits and extended listening.
Douglas Moffat @douglasmoffat
Exploring the relationship between sound and the designed landscape, Douglas Moffat creates spaces built for listening. Trained in landscape architecture, sculpture and architecture history, his work mixes field recordings, electroacoustics and sculptural processes with the methods of contemporary landscape design. His recent project ‘Listening to Las Vegas’ explored the sonic environment of the Las Vegas Strip. He has presented works at the Jardin de Métis Festival and the
Send + Receive Festival. Over two summers he has co-tutored workshops for the Architectural Association in London, UK.
Steve Bates @stevebates
Steve Bates is an artist and musician living in Montréal. The sonic is always the starting point for his projects which are evocations of communication networks and systems, or expressions of spatial and temporal experience. Bates frequently uses sound material that is site-specific in an attempt to uncover place and how the sonic effects our experience of site. Time is measured, stretched, pulled at, ignored, and extended. His work has been exhibited in Canada, the United States, Europe and most recently, Senegal. Steve Bates works in the field, on the air and in museological/gallery contexts. These shifting territories reflect the content of his practice.
http://stevebates.infoCollaborators
Geoffrey Jones
BASH is Geoffrey Jones and Okta could not have happened without him. The cloud camera and it's control over the distributed sound system were developed early on in the project. A specialist in custom outdoor electronics, BASH also provided consulting and design on the column design and audio hardware system. With the recent addition of CNC milling facilities, BASH was able to provide fabrication of some of the detailed parts for the Okta sound columns themselves.
http://www.bash-design.com/Michal Seta
Michal Seta wears many hats. He is a developer and research professional at Society for Arts and Technology and research assistant at Matralab, Montreal, composer/improviser, performer and digital artist. For OKTA, Michal developed the software components for playback and diffusion of the sound across the field of sound columns. Among these components was PyoSpat, a spatialization engine he has developed with Alexandre Quessy.
http://creazone.ca/Kevin Finlayson
A designer based in Montreal, Kevin is usually busy designing interfaces and products, mostly for the web. As designer of this website, Kevin was essential in developing the look and feel of the 'cloud memory' features. He help us articulate the challenges of creating a web experience that would heighten the experience of the visiting and listening to Okta.
http://dustandmold.netOkta Would Not Have Been Possible Without
OKTA would not have been possible without the help of many talented, dedicated and patient friends and collaborators.
- Rebecca Carbin, Public Art Office
- Clara Hargittay, Public Art Office
- Anothony Hum, Mopal Construction
- Julian Lord, Protoplus
- Bill Morris and Sapa Group Montreal
- James Boutillier and Christian Bechard and Novita Techne
- Chris Monaco and Moon-Matz Consulting Engineer
- Louise Clavin and Diana Gerrard, GH3
- Brian Smith and Sarah Vernon, Feonic Speakers
- Mark Lafleche from Bell Canada
- Fern Bayer, Public Art Office
- Natalie Stone, Public Art Office
- Tim Sutton, Server Configuration
- Gibraltar Point Artist Residency
Cloud Sound
Special thanks to Jason Tait, Sophie Trudeau and Peter Burton for their generous contributions of cloudy sounds.