Inspired by both elaborate historic costume and animal architecture, Tintinnabulation Station’s shape
is reminiscent of a beehive or igloo. The piece is a tipi-canopy created to resemble a meticulously
constructed bird’s nest or spider’s web. Once inside, any movement made will make a musician
(intentional or otherwise) from any temporary inhabitant, as the walls are webbed and hung with bells,
chimes, and found objects – when bumped against, these create a joyous tintinnabulation. Found objects
represent the spider-bird’s collection – an assortment of household treasures, lost tokens, and bits of metal
(silverware, clock parts, odd baubles) which all contribute to sound-making, and to the sense of entering into
a strange creature’s lair. The hoop-skirt shape is the hollow body of the bride, who keeps all her secrets and
treasures hidden. Is it a wedding dress, or a wedding cake? Encased in a glass gazebo like the sleeping body
of Snow White, Tintinnabulation Station is elegant and inviolable. Enter in, and tell stories, share secrets, sing
songs, ring the bells with your hand, or just rest a while and dream of lost brides and storm-torn gardens.


I am so excited and honored to have been able to collaborate with Colin
(he created the metal and strapping frame structure) on this piece,
part of a larger collaboration with Swoon and many other amazing
artists called The Music Box. Eventually, all these elements will be combined to create Dithyrambalina!
Micah Learned and Elizabeth Shannon built the most beautiful shanty to house Tintinnabulation Station.
It’s all old windows, silvery antique ceiling tin, candles and magic. A Tibetan sigil is burnt into the floor.
All the amazing shanty and sound artists that have collaborated to create this village have just totally blown me away
with their creativity and inventiveness. You really have to see it with your own eyes to truly understand, but I will do my
best to capture it in photos over the weekend, and share some of the magic here. It is quite a marvelous accomplishment.

I spent many months spray painting hundreds and hundreds of little bells and metal objects to be incorporated into the piece.
Possibly many brain cells were lost during this process, despite eventually acquiring a respirator. A sacrifice for art!



bellshadows.

milkybells.

Within the first layers of Tintinnabulation Station.

It’s like being inside a Cocteau Twins album cover!

In the final days of installation, many changes and adjustments were made,
and layers of more objects and fairy lights were added. Magical.

I worked through the night to complete it before needing to hit the road at 6am.
It was crazy – a vicious cold-front and wind-storm blew in, and the entire town
was creaking and shaking. My glass shanty doors kept blowing open, and I
feared I might end up in Oz before the night was done. Hot tea & good music
got me through! I know I’ll probably keep adding and tweaking it continually,
but it felt great to step away from it happy with what I’d created. Deep sigh.


Proto-Dithy!

The village fence, with art by Swoon.

Quintron playing the Kalalophone
Some great stories about the project from the NOLA Defender:
Sound Town – A Sneak Peek at ‘The Music Box,’ Where Sculptures Form a Symphony
Bywater ‘Music Box’ to Wind Up for the First Time This Weekend


Borscht break on the stoop. Myrtle thought it was a daiquiri! Ah, New Orleans.

The most beautiful door in New Orleans – on one of my favorite houses,
where some of my favorite people live. Aren’t they the luckiest ever,
to live next door to a musical village? Yes, they are indeed.