The Secret Lives of Fixtures- Digital Collage 4" x 6"

The year I spent in Berlin had exposed me to the world of sound art. The works I heard effected me deeply and changed the way I listened to the world. When I returned to the States I decided to embark on an audio work of my own. Once resettled I began recording the objects that populated my tiny apartment. At first I simply placed a microphone in front of mirrors, tables and chairs and let the tape run. My equipment yielded poor results. Tape hiss and background noise marred whatever nuisanced sounds these objects emitted. Taking all my savings, and borrowing heavily from family and friends I invested in state-of-the-art boom mikes and top-of-the-line recorders. My initial recordings were a disappointment. Everyone thought I had lost my mind. Still I persisted.

For whatever reason I found myself drawn time and again to my old porcelain sink.I wondered if perhaps my anxious presence had made the sink self-conscious and so I extended the boom and moved to the far end of the room. I held my breath and waited. I closed my eyes and focused. Gradually I became aware of murmurs. I concentrated and listened closely trying to decipher the sound when my attention was shattered by a whoosh of air. It took me an instant to realize that the whoosh had in fact been a sigh. A second sigh followed and then more muttering. Although I could not make out the language, it was clear the sink was communicating dissatisfaction. The next thing I knew I was kneeling before it cradling the cool bowl against my tear stained cheeks, reassuring it that it was going to be all right. When I finally pulled myself away I went to the recorder, removed the tape, tossed it into my wastepaper basket and lit it on fire. My days as an audio artist were over.