Organized by MOCA Cleveland; Coordinated by Margo Ann Crutchfield, Senior Curator

Site specific sound installation, William D. Ginn Gallery

In this sound environment titled Terrain (2009), twelve channels of sound move through a colorful web of wire and speakers to create a dynamic sonic landscape.  Utilizing over a hundred speakers to emit hums and whispers, the piece emanates sounds reminiscent of hushed conversations, stormy weather, blowing leaves, or a gentle wind.  To make the work's soundtrack, Swartz asked thirty-eight volunteers to envision a loved one and then to speak into a microphone as if whispering in that person's ear.  Swartz has woven these intimacies into abstract affective tones, interpsersed with discernible moments of conversation.  The layering and merging of disparate voices and languages constructs an aural topography of human sentiment.

You can read more about the artist here: http://www.julianneswartz.com/index.html