Mockingbird Movie, Bird on the front porch, Mockingbird Suite album

When I began this residency I wanted to find an overarching theme that would connect my sound, visual, and performance practices in a way that took into account the community-based nature of the project. My initial proposal was to collect and respond to the sights and sounds of York, Alabama and the surrounding area. As the project took shape I realized I wanted to use many different methods of responding to, and working with, the community. During research I happened upon some information about the North American Mockingbird. I saw parallels in the way it collects and revises its pallet of songs with the way I wanted to collect and respond to York. Thus, Mockingbird: Mapping Sights and Sounds is the culmination of this process.





I came up with the personae of a mockingbird. My costume consists of a second-hand gray suit and my grandfather’s hat. I move my arms periodically to mimic the mockingbird’s territorial wing movements. I strut around and survey my surroundings.




Mockingbird Suite:

This is a series of twenty sound pieces that combine field recordings and extended vocal techniques. Each one is a meditation on a particular sound, or a group of sounds that I have encountered during my residency. The sound pieces are the most obvious link to the mockingbird. However, they are not patterned on mockingbird song. If you are interested in getting a copy of the Mockingbird Suite, please contact me at the following email address: text2sound@yahoo.com. Or to download the entire album for free click here.