The art museum is the examination, the veneration, the home of two abstract concepts: Creativity and interpretation. Engaging visitors in both throughout the galleries, not only enriches their experience, but offers a more complete picture of the museum itself.
The created soundtracks function as a different type of experience. Label writing is difficult due in part to the unlikelihood of holding visitors’ attention for long blocks of text, and thus I believe my project will enhance the label experience by offering information in a non-textual format. By working just with sound, I will have the freedom to explore what these soundscapes can do, and push myself to create new experiences rather than simply adding to existing ones.
In the Smith College Museum of Art Interpretive Plan and Gallery Text Guidelines, the “Guiding Principles” state: “We affirm that works of art possess qualities that provide for meaningful learning and can: resonate for a person emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually…provide a human and physical connection to another time and place.” This project is an examination of that connective experience; what does it mean to embody that appreciation? What are the bounds of an art experience?
Sound is a compelling tool for this project because it substantially changes the sensory landscape of the art gallery. Silence can enforce preconceived notions of gallery etiquette, make things tense, and cause visitors to feel like they cannot do certain things. If the goal of the art museum is to promote art appreciation, how can we expect visitors to feel they have the space to react to the art in a sterile environment?
Soundscapes break this silence. As a sensory stimulus, the tracks engage more than just the visual as visitors experience the art. Offering more entry points into an art object, visitors may hear something that provokes a memory or experience, helping to form a connection with the piece. The sound creates a multitude of access points into a piece, which can help visitors who might not know “how” to engage with the art, and break through the first impression barrier. Because the soundscapes ebb and flow, they continuously offer new stimulus to a viewer at the piece, providing a dynamic experience that changes over time. In addition, moving through the gallery, the soundscapes create a distinct difference in physical environment, which can help decrease museum fatigue and offer a restorative experience.