Circuitry & Poetry

Science and art can play well together as evidenced in Circuitry& Poetry where experimental electronics accompany the communicative arts of dance, poetry and sign language.

 The spirit of exploration in search of new sounds is the driving force behind circuit bending. In live performance, chance plays a large role, because of the random and chaotic nature of “circuit bent” instruments.  There is a contradiction between the desire to unleash unpredictable sounds and the desire to control them in performances, which are not repeatable.

 Circuitry and Poetry is an experimental performance project which pairs the art of circuit bending with that of dance, sign language and poetry.  More black art then science, circuit bending  entails opening inexpensive electronics devices, ranging form children’s toys to keyboard instruments, exposing their circuit boards for the purpose of exploration.  Using test leads, the bender systematically creates short circuits in pursuit of sounds not intended by the manufacturer. Once this process is completed, switches and other components are installed in the device enabling the performer to activate these strange new sounds at will.  In Circuitry & Poetry, Jeff  Boynton performs on his circuit bent instruments, providing a soundscape over which Mona Jean  Cedar incorporates poetry, sign language and dance.

.Science and art can play well together as evidenced in Circuitry & Poetry, where experimental electronic devices created through the practice of “circuit bending” provide an aural backdrop for the communicative arts of dance, poetry and sign language.

The spirit of exploration in search of new sounds is the driving force behind circuit bending. More black art than science, circuit bending entails opening inexpensive electronics devices, ranging from children’s toys to keyboard instruments. The exposed circuit boards are thus made vulnerable to poking, probing, and prodding.  Using test leads, the bender systematically creates short circuits in pursuit of sounds not intended by the manufacturer. Once this process is completed, switches and other components are installed in the device, enabling the performer to activate these strange new sounds at will. In live performance, chance plays a large role, because of the random and chaotic nature of circuit bent instruments.  There is a contradiction between the desire to unleash unpredictable sounds and the desire to control them in live performance.