Communion – Matt Pyke + Field.io

Communion is a video installation that projects a grid of sound-reactive critters over four walls of a rectangular space. Each dynamically-generated creature dances to the rhythm of a musical accompaniment. I appreciate the artist’s careful balance between randomness and order. While skeletons vary in form and motion, they are united by color and a clear organizational matrix. One thing the piece lacks is interactivity. Although it directly addresses the connection between sound and motion, it leaves no opportunity for the audience to explore this connection themselves. If installed at a rave or concert, Communion could really shine.

Tele-Present Water – David Bowen

Tele-Present water is a kinetic sculpture consisting of a metal grid suspended from an array of servo motors. The grid moves to mimic the frequency and intensity of the ocean at a remote location. Tele-Present Water effectively contrasts the mechanistic and the ephemeral. It pits an industrial aesthetic against effortless motion to great effect. However, the tele-presence aspect is perhaps an unnecessary complication. If instead its motion was programmed manually, like a marionette, the artist could explore new aesthetic ground.

Thicket – Joshue Ott + Morgan Packard

Thicket is an iPad app for creating generative music. A simple backbeat is augmented with lead synths and percussion hits in response to multitouch gestures. Thicket makes music creation intuitive. It enforces enough structure that anything sounds good, while still empowering the user to feel control. The experience is generally consistent but could benefit from further audio-visual feedback. The direct connection between gesture and sound is not always evident. Judicious use of color is one way the artist could attempt to reinforce these connections.