GLISSANDO

Glissando is a site-specific installation created for the 2018 Music is Art Festival at Buffalo RiverWorks. Suspended within the remains of a grain silo, the work responds to the geometry of its former grain funnel. Fabric elements diminish in size across the installation, recalling the movement of grain through the industrial structure.

The title refers to a glissando, a continuous movement between musical pitches. Rather than translating a particular sound into a fixed image, the installation uses changes in scale and color to suggest a visual rhythm within the silo. Its soft, suspended forms create a contrast with the surrounding concrete, allowing the site’s former industrial function to remain visible while giving it a temporary role in the festival.

During the day, the bright fabric defines a sequence of forms within the funnel. At night, blacklight illumination changes their appearance for the festival’s evening audience. The work connects the physical history of the site with the music and movement of its temporary use.

Project information

• Location: Buffalo RiverWorks, Buffalo, New York

• Event: Music is Art Festival

• Presented with: Music is Art and Green Window City

• Date: September 8, 2018

• Project type: Site-specific installation

• Materials: Fabric, rope, lighting, and foam stuffing

• Dimensions: 12 × 12 × 8 ft