Electrostatic Bell Choir (installation, 2012) Electromechanical sound installation consisting of 20 repurposed Cathode Ray Tube TVs used as static electricity generators. The TVs turn on and off in automated sequences causing static to accumulate on the screens. These charges agitate strikers on small bell assemblies standing in front of the monitors, causing them to lightly hit the bells. The TVs are muted and tuned to various channels of white noise. A dynamically soundscape is produced by the signature high—frequency hums and pops of the cathode ray tubes warming up. The glow of the screens and the subtle resonance of the bells magically punctuate the dark surroundings of the installation.
By re—imagining these obsolete living room media icons Electrostatic Bell Choir offers a perspective on consumer technology from behind that illuminate some of the more banal yet disconcerting issues it presents to contemporary society. By working with radiation, an imperceptible artifact of electronic technology, this work depicts a poetic meditation on the intangible biological effects of an ever increasing wirelessly dependent society.
Darsha Hewitt (b. 1982 in Montreal) — a Canadian artist based in Montreal.
She has presented artwork across Canada, in Mexico, Scandinavia and Europe. She is the recipient of an International Stipend for Young Artists in Sound Art from the Federal State of Lower Saxony and Braunschweig HBK, Germany (2013). She has presented at Edith—Russ—Haus für Medienkunst (Germany), Make Art Festival (France), Piksel Festival (Norway), La Periferia (Mexico), MUTEK (Canada), Elektra—BIAN (Canada), Studio XX (Canada) and Interacess (Canada). In 2013 she will present at The Blackwood Gallery (Canada) and at Electric Fields Media Arts Festival (Canada).
In keeping with her interest in making technology accessible, she teaches do—it—yourself electronics workshops in artist—run organizations, youth centres, schools and with feminist groups. She takes part in several open—source technology communities and has acted as a consultant on the development of electronics labs in artist—run centres in Canada. Her work is represented by Perte De Signal (QC). She is also an organizing member of the collective’s Open Source Residency Program.
