Michael Vorfeld. Glühlampenmusik (Light Bulb Music). Performance. 2005.
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Michael Vorfeld
Live Performances Wednesday 8 & Thursday 9 November 2006, 7:30pm
Lecture immediately following the performance on 9 November
Tickets $10 gen/$5 students and LACE members; call 323.957.1777
Doors open 7pm

The German sound and visual artist Michael Vorfeld will engage in two events on 8 and 9 November at LACE. The first evening will feature a solo concert in which Vorfeld will perform on percussion and self-made string instruments, creating a texturally rich soundscape that is uniquely responsive to the acoustics of LACE's exhibition space. Later that evening, Vorfeld will perform percussion in a trio with Jeremy Drake (guitar) and Chris Heenan (alto saxophone, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet) under the collective title Team Up. On the second evening, Vorfeld will give an "electro-acoustic" performance wherein he makes use of the electrical activity of light bulb filaments to generate an audio-visual work in which "the performer acts as a musician, a light artist and a technician at the same time." This performance will be followed by a lecture on artistic practice in which Vorfeld will discuss the compositional ideas out of which he develops his music, light and sound projects. He will also speak about improvisation and its use in the collaborative projects in which he is involved.

These events represent LACE's commitment to showcasing new and experimental music and sound art. The opportunity to present an international performing artist of Vorfeld's caliber in Los Angeles will set a new standard for LACE's future music programming.

BIOGRAPHIES

Berlin-based musician and visual artist Michael Vorfeld works in the fields of experimental music, improvised music and sound and visual art. Besides his frequent solo activities, he is a member of various ensembles and collaborates with theater artists, choreographers, visual artists, and musicians on numerous projects. His list of activities includes concerts, performances and exhibitions in Europe, the United States, Asia and Australia. Current projects include: Zygoma, a trio with Jeff Gburek (guitar) and Michael Walz (electronics); a trio with Annette Krebs (guitar) and Anna-Maria Rodriguez (laptop); Vestige Vertical with Lothar Fiedler (guitar) and Michael Walz (electronics); a duo with sound and visual artist Claus van Bebber; and a duo with pianist Reinhold Friedl. This invitation to perform at LACE is highly significant for Vorfeld, as it will be the first time he has performed in Los Angeles. It will also be the first time that he has performed with his light bulb and sound instrument in the United States.

Jeremy Drake is an improvisational guitarist, sound artist, concert organizer and educator living in Los Angeles. Active in the improvised music community, Drake was co-founder of LINE SPACE LINE, a weekly concert series that ran May 2002 through August 2005. He has performed throughout Canada, the U.K., Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands and the U.S. on numerous festivals and concert series, and he is a recipient of an American Composers Forum Subito and Durfee Foundation ARC grant award and was named an American Composers Forum composer-in-residence in February 2004. Drake's sound installations have been exhibited at several Los Angeles-area galleries, including LA ArtShare and Solids Gallery, as well as at the Long Beach Soundwalk and the Reveal/Revile exhibition at California State University, Long Beach.

Chris Heenan lives in Los Angeles and plays alto saxophone, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet and analog synthesizer. In 2002 he co-founded the LINE SPACE LINE performance series, and in 2004 he founded REIFY, a record label specializing in experimental and improvised music. He has performed throughout the U.S. and internationally in Germany, Denmark, Switzerland and Sweden. He is the recipient of grants from the American Composers Forum, Arts International and the Durfee Foundation. He received his MFA from the Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts at Bard College in 2004 and was a fellow-in-residence at Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart, Germany in 2005. Some current projects include Phantom Limb + Bison with electronic musician Jaime Fennelly, guitarist Chris Forsyth and Shawn Hansen on EMS synthi & radio feedback; Team Up, a trio with guitarist Jeremy Drake and a revolving third member percussionist; and a duo with Chris Forsyth.

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This event was made possible by Meet The Composer and its Global Connections Program. Funding for Global Connections is provided by The Ford Foundation.

Support for LACE and its programs comes from: The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, California Community Foundation, City of Los Angeles, The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation, Department of Cultural Affairs, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, The Getty Foundation, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation, Jockey Hollow Foundation, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Morris Family Foundation, Stone Brewing Co., and the members of LACE.