Coastal SoundLab
5-11 August 2024
A collaborative project between EDAN Artists and Rob Smith
Artist Rob Smith will be working with East Durham Artist Network to host a programme of free events and workshops. Come to the EDAN Gallery and take part in guided sound walks along the coast, visit the site of the Seaham sound mirror, share stories of local history, hear the landscape in new ways and record sounds that can contribute to the artwork in the gallery.
To find out more about Coastal SoundLab and to record sounds that become part of the artwork visit https://soundmirror.xyz/soundlab
Soundmirror
Soundmirror is a participatory artwork that listens to and reflects the soundscapes of coastal environments through the sites of First World War sound mirrors in the north east today.
The online artwork created by Rob Smith invites people to add to a database of sounds and examines how ‘listening’ to the contemporary coastal environment can enable the site of the sound mirror to emerge from the intersection of technologies and shared histories.
By questioning what the sound mirror’s continuing role in the contemporary landscape is, soundmirror creates a space that can enable connections with the site of the mirror to expand beyond simply being an historic location.
Coastal SoundLab reimagines the heritage sites of First World War sound mirrors through sound and technology. Visiting venues at the sites of three sound mirrors on the North East coast, SoundLab will host a summer of events and workshops that explore our changing coastal landscapes, and peoples' relationships to them.
A network of sound mirrors were built along the North East Coast to help defend the coast against zeppelin bombing raids. Their large concrete dishes would reflect the sounds of a Zeppelin’s engines, and amplify them so that an operator could hear them coming and give an early warning to people in the towns.
Seaham SoundMirror
Coastal SoundLab reimagines the heritage sites of First World War sound mirrors
The sound mirror in Seaham stood on the hill above Dalton-Le-Dale looking out towards the horizon, but The field where it stood is now empty. Coastal SoundLab: Seaham will revisit this site using sound and technology to animate it, and explore how this place is still relevant to people in Seaham today..
To find out more about this project and Sunderland University's collaborations with SeaScapes please visit their website:
SoundLab Events
Sunday 4th August:
13.00 - 16.00 EDAN Members Sound mirror Site Visit and sound walk
Monday 5th August:
10.00 -12.00 SeaScapes Family sensory walk and Rock Pool Ramble with Durham
Wildlife Trust on the beach.
15:00 -17:00 / 17:30-19:30 Workshop for EDAN Members Visualising Sounds in Collage Workshop with Rob Smith
Tuesday 6th August:
13:30 - 14:30 Coastal Sound Walk with artist Rob Smith
Take a walk along Seaham Seafront and explore different ways of listening to our coastal environment
SoundLab Seaham: Coastal Sound Walk with artist Rob Smith
Wednesday 7th August:
11:00 -15:00 Beneath the Waves Drop In
Explore the hidden heritage of shipwrecks through our interactive app
Beneath the Waves Drop In
13.00 - 15.00 Coastal SoundLab:3D modelling workshop with artist Rob Smith
Ever wanted to know how to make digital 3D models with a digital camera? Now is your chance!
SoundLab Seaham:Soundmirror 3D modelling workshop with artist Rob Smith
Thursday 8th August:
11:00-13:00. Coastal Sound Lab: Your Sound Mirror Stories
A community coffee morning to gather together and share your memories the Seaham sound mirror
Coastal Sound Lab: Your Sound Mirror Stories
13:00 - 15:00 Coastal SoundLab: Coast at War with Tees Archaeology
Emma Watson, Lead Archaeologist at Tees Archaeology, takes us through the history of sound mirrors on the North East Coast.
Coastal SoundLab: Coast at War with Tees Archaeology
Friday 9th August:
11:30 - 12:30 Coastal Sound Walk with artist Rob Smith
Take a walk along Seaham Seafront and explore different ways of listening to our coastal environment
SoundLab Seaham: Coastal Sound Walk with artist Rob Smith
Saturday 10th August:
13:30 - 14:30 Coastal Sound Walk with artist Rob Smith
Take a walk along Seaham Seafront and explore different ways of listening to our coastal environment
SoundLab Seaham: Family Coastal Sound Walk with artist Rob Smith
Sunday 11th August:
11:30 - 14:30 SoundLab: Coding Soundscapes
Remixing environmental data into sound with artist Shelly Knotts
SoundLab Seaham: Coding Soundscapes
To book onto any of these events visit https://ess-staging.differentnarrative.co.uk/events/
Coastal SoundLab has been commissioned by CoLab Sunderland University and The Seascapes Partnership with support from Heritage Fund.
