Spectral Density Estimation

Year

2013

Client

SECCA and Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra

Location

SECCA, Winston-Salem, USA

Scale

2 sculptures, 50 × 25 × 12 cm each

Technology

CNC-carved cedar wood (spectral analysis of live orchestra recordings)

Spectral Density Estimation is a pair of data sculptures by Studio A N F, delivered in 2013 for SECCA (Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art) and the Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra in Winston-Salem, USA. The pieces are cedar wood at 50 × 25 × 12 cm each, carved from a cedar tree that had fallen outside the museum, with the geometry derived from spectral analysis of two live orchestra recordings from the 2012–2013 season. It is a site-specific commission by SECCA.

Spectral Density Estimation I; 50 × 25 × 12 cm; Cedar wood; Spectral Density Estimation is a pair of sculptures commissioned by the SECCA and the Winston-Salem Symphony orchestra. Two sound recordings of the first organized tuning were taken at the last 2 orchestra performances of the 2012 / 2013 season. Each recording was analyzed and transformed into a spatial arrangement of the audio frequencies over time. The resulting geometry was then carved into a block of wood from a cedar tree, that had fallen outside the museum. Installation View at SECCA; [Photography: Cliff Dossel] 2 sculptures, 50 × 25 × 12 cm each; Cedar wood; [Photography: Cliff Dossel] Detail; [Photography: A N F]