AnthropoSonic: Seismic Studies 

Monday, April 24

Rogers Memorial Chapel, Tulane’s Uptown Campus

6:00PM-7:30PM

Part II: Gulf Coast Acoustemologies ––  A Live Performance Lab

Featured Artists: Demi Ward, Cory Diane, Clementine Hartman, Ryan Clarke, and Peter J Bowling

The New Orleans Center for the Gulf South (NOCGS) continues its exploration of the Anthropocene highlighting the interdependence of humans, animals, and the earth by presenting AnthropoSonic: Seismic Studies. The Anthropocene is a useful concept—and proposed geological epoch—recognizing the present era in which human-generated forces have altered the earth’s surface, atmosphere, and planetary patterns. AnthropoSonic: Seismic Studies is a two-part series that will allow researchers to explore seismic studies in our region and participate in a sound art workshop that will consider the impact of these studies on plant and wildlife. In the second part of the series, we will discuss the results of our findings and present various reflections on the past two years of AnthropoSonic.

AnthropoSonic: Reflections with Rebecca Snedeker, Denise Frazier, and Ryan Clarke

Clark Executive Director of New Orleans Center for the Gulf South Rebecca Snedeker, Assistant Director Denise Frazier, scholar, composer and Newcomb Department of Music graduate student Ryan Clarke will be in conversation about the AnthropoSonic concept, past events, and the debut of Clarke’s short film from Lisa E. Harris’ Live Performance Lab last Spring.

Live Performance Lab featuring Cory Diane, Clementine Hartman, and Peter J Bowling

We will discuss coastal erosion, climate change, and how the survey impacts local wildlife from West Indian manatees to waterbird nest colonies and blue crabs. Composer and ecological researcher and sound artist Cory Diane will present on their research of the seismic studies in Lake Maurepas and the Gulf South Rice’s Whales impacted by anthropogenic sound.

The Gulf of Mexico is a site of competing acoustemologies - ways of knowing through sound - with often devastating consequences. In this series, Cory Diane shares their research and creative practice into the soundscape of the Gulf of Mexico, centering the story of one of its most vulnerable populations - the recently named Rice’s whale, a population of whales finally recognized as a species in 2021, the Gulf of Mexico’s only resident whale, one of the most endangered marine mammals on the planet, and a community uniquely threatened by the sounds of oil exploration, shipping and industry.

Seismic Studies Soundscape Debut featuring Demi Ward

Composer, Newcomb Department of Music graduate student  and sound artist Demi Ward will debut their composition from the kayaking trip. 

This event is free and open to the public. A reception with refreshments will follow the program. This event is made possible with the support of the Dorothy Beckemeyer Skau Art and Music Fund.