I'm excited to share that I will be interviewed on stage this week by Dr. Yewande Pearse at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. It's part of the museum's 'First Fridays' series, and I'll be joining a slew of other creative artists and musicians to explore the themes of sound and nature. It's the kind of thing I would go to even if I weren't participating in it — truly a fun night out — and I invite all my LA friends to stop by. The event is on Friday April 4th and begins at 5 PM. My conversation with Yewande starts around 6:30 PM. There's also food, beer, live music, and dinosaurs. Check it out!
(Future) snake sounds for National Geographic headquarters
One of the cool parts of this work is seeing all the random ways that my sound recordings are used — from Bigfoot documentaries to art projects and scientific research. Recently, I sent something (a fun but tiny contribution) to the National Geographic Society. If you are in D.C. in the very distant year of 2026, you’ll hear one of my rattlesnake recordings coming from a small diorama in the newly reimagined National Geographic Base Camp pavilion. Hey, those sounds have to come from somewhere.
New radio channel
Listen to some of my favorite recordings on Ecosystem Sound Radio. Now broadcasting!
Artist talk February 9th
“Resonant cube” from Pando Suite. Photo by Jeff Rice.
If a tree is the size of a forest and someone is around to record it, does it make a sound? Get the answer to this and other questions at my artist talk at Jack Straw Cultural Center on February 9th at 7 PM. I will be talking about my latest sound installation ‘Pando Suite.’ All are welcome. The exhibit is showing at the Jack Straw New Media Gallery in Seattle from January 19th to March 8th. Read more about the exhibit and how to get there.
‘Pando Suite’ opens at the Jack Straw New Media Gallery on January 19th
Photo of the Pando aspen forest by Jeff Rice. Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.
Please join me for the opening reception of my audio installation ‘Pando Suite’ at the Jack Straw New Media Gallery in Seattle on January 19th at 7 PM. The exhibit runs from January 19th to March 8th. More information is available on the Jack Straw Cultural Center website.
‘A Climate of Hope’ launches at NHMU
Yes, there is still hope! About a year ago, the Natural History Museum of Utah reached out to me to contribute sounds to their newest permanent exhibit, ‘A Climate of Hope,’ which launched earlier this month. The premise is that in this age of human-caused climate change, “it’s not too late.” We can make a difference in the battle to curb global warming. The exhibit includes the beautiful immersive environment shown below and it features all kinds of information about how people are coping with and responding to one of our greatest ecological, and societal, problems. My job was to add sounds to several of the exhibit stations and the project was full of interesting challenges. People know what the natural world sounds like, but how does one convey the sounds of climate adaptation? Ultimately, the exhibit included interpretations of both natural and engineered environments, from a pond and an alpine forest (pictured) to cooling centers and reflective roofs. As serious as climate change is, I hope people will still enjoy this exhibit and come away feeling inspired to take action. Positive change often begins with hope. We can significantly reduce our carbon footprints and demand that our governments do the same.
Toads of Trinity rebroadcast
Two adobe buildings are among the few structures that remain at Trinity Base Camp on the White Sands Missile Range. Photo by Jeff Rice. Approved for release.
The night before the world’s first test of the atomic bomb, scientists heard a strange sound coming from the edge of Trinity Base Camp. Hear a rebroadcast of my story “The Toads of Trinity” on NPR’s Here & Now. The story makes a great tie-in to the new Oppenheimer movie.
New works and a Pando journal
What is the sound of Pando?
“What does Pando sound like? For most people, the sound of an aspen grove is defined by its trembling leaves. For me, as someone who has been around aspens my whole life, this sound is instantly recognizable and almost impossible to describe.” Read more in my “Pando Journal,” a short essay now published by Friends of Pando. The page also includes some of my experimental audio work.
Hidden Soundscapes revealed
Presenting Hidden Soundscapes 2023, a sound installation of ambisonic recordings of the High Plains ecosystem played on nine speakers. Opening today through October 14th at Tinworks Art.
Hidden Soundscapes at Tinworks in July
This July 8 - October 14, I am presenting a series of “Hidden Soundscapes” as part of the Invisible Prairie exhibition at Tinworks gallery in Bozeman, Montana. Sounds will be presented in a 5.1 surround format with the help of Tinworks staff, engineer KC Luchsinger, and Jason Bolte of the Montana State University School of Music. Recording locations include Montana’s American Prairie Reserve and sites in Texas, Indiana, Nebraska, and Washington.
