Stephen Vitiello Four Color Sound
The Project, New York is pleased to present Stephen Vitiello’s fourth solo exhibition at the gallery, Four Color Sound (2008), an immersive environment divided into four sections: Blue, Red, Yellow, and Green. It was originally commissioned by DiverseWorks, a non-profit exhibition space in Houston, and features lighting design by Jeremy Choate.
The 28-minute audio cycle is accompanied by choreographed lighting effects that charge the foggy room with four consecutive color segments. Each audio section combines sounds produced using electronic synthesizers with excerpts from Vitiello’s documentary field and instrumental recordings. For example, in the Blue section one hears birds and insects recorded in the Brazilian Amazon. The Yellow section consists of instrumental sounds from the group Beta Collide, including the trumpet, flute and percussion. There are frogs recorded in Virginia in the Green section and, finally, thunder in the Red section. Although each section is a study in monochromatic color and sound texture, the cross fades are sublime moments of transition.
Stephen Vitiello is an electronic musician and sound artist. Recent solo exhibitions include Duets, MC, Los Angeles (2008), DiverseWorks, Houston (2008), and Slow Planes, Fast Trees, Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, Virginia Beach (2007). Vitiello’s work is currently part of Perspectives 163: Every Sound You Can Imagine at the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston. Recent group exhibitions include dis(concert), Steve Turner Contemporary, Los Angeles (2008) and Organizing Chaos, P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, New York (2007).
Vitiello also participated in the 2006 Biennale of Sydney, the 2002 Whitney Biennial and Greater New York at P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center presented in collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art. He was also a short-listed nominee for the Nam June Paik Award in 2006. Since 1988, Vitiello has collaborated with artists, musicians and choreographers, including Dara Birnbaum, Jem Cohen, Andrew Deutsch, John Jasperse/ White Oak Dance Project, Joan Jonas, Julie Mehretu, Pauline Oliveros, Tony Oursler, Nam June Paik, Eder Santos, Scanner and Yasunao Tone. Upcoming projects include a performance at The Marfa Sessions on September 26th with Steve Roden and an installation for MASS MoCA.