Ptarmigan existed as a project space in Vallila from 2009-2011 and a mobile curatorial/creative platform until 2014. We no longer exist as an organised collective, but this website will continue to serve as an archive of the activities produced as/at Ptarmigan during these years.
Longtime Ptarmigan friend Derek Holzer returns to present a one-day workshop on building SoundBoxes. Participants will discover the hidden sonic qualities of objects from our everyday world in this hands-on workshop, which combines the arts of electronics, noise, sculpture and collage. The basic elements we will employ are a wooden box, a speaker, a small audio amplifier and a contact microphone. To this, brave box-builders will add their own found objects, graphics, images, memories and ideas to create a unique electroacoustic cabinet of curiosities.
WHAT TO BRING
Derek will provide most of the tools and materials necessary for constructing the box. However there are a few things you should bring yourself:
1) A BOX: This should be made of thin wood or very strong cardboard. Plastic can be also used, but it doesn’t sound very good. No metal, please! This box should be a minimum of 10x15x4cm. Larger boxes have better resonance and room for speakers, objects and decorations. Cigar boxes, small suitcases, instrument cases or jewelry/silverware boxes are all good things to look for. IMPORTANT: the lid of the box should be no more than 5mm thick!
2) A SPEAKER (OPTIONAL): I often have 77mm or 92mm speakers on hand, but if you want a larger or different one you can bring it yourself. Besides buying one, you can salvage one from old hi-fi systems, clock radios or portable stereos. Please make sure it fits in the box you have chosen!
3) FOUND/SOUND OBJECTS: Please bring as many found objects as you can to decorate your soundbox or use as a sound source via the contact microphone.
4) EFFECTS PEDALS (OPTIONAL): Any kind of battery-powered effects pedals, such as distortions, filters or delays, can be very useful in creating more nonlinearities in the feedback loop.
More information on the workshop (including more photos and video) can be found on Derek's site.
Participants will perform on their soundboxes later in the evening at the SoundBoxes performance night. Invite your friends and families!
