hear now their then: imaginative geographical narratives through place-based sound and story

Abstract

This document records and reflects upon my MFA Thesis Exhibition hear now their then, as well as relevant research and contextual information. hear now their then was a site-responsive sound installation at the Jam Handy Building in Detroit in March of 2014. 12 audio vignettes heard through headphone speakers hung down from the building’s rafters and created an experiential and imaginative geographical narrative of the building and its long and winding history. This paper begins with a declaration of beliefs surrounding the connection of story to place, the accumulation of history in everyday spaces, and the potential for siteresponsive and place-based art to expand and interact with these site-based narratives. A chronological history of the Jam Handy Building follows, and a personal reflection of interest in that history -- including the layering of events over time and the context of these events in the larger history of Detroit. Detailed after that is the process of creating the audio pieces and their installation, situating them in art historical context, and describing the influence of other artists works. In conclusion I discuss the transportative power of sound and narrative, the simultaneous experience of past and present at historic sites, and the impact of this work on future creative endeavors.