165 George Street

22 September – 15 October, 11am-5pm daily

Skinner Annex at Otago Museum, 419 Great King Street

30 September – 15 October, 11am-5pm daily

Performances: 30 September, 2pm Otago Museum Lawn, 11 October, 5.30pm Otago Polytechnic Hub, 14 October Vogel Street Party

Symposium: 7 October, 10am-3pm Otago Museum

Images: Justin Spiers

Media:

'Sounds like a Problem': Otago Daily Times video and story on Sounding

'Wi-fi oceans to wash': Stuff story on Sounding in Dunedin

Sounding investigates the connections between noise pollution, whales and dolphins living off the coast of Dunedin. Using sound and social engagement Sounding helps us navigate the problems Otago’s sea mammals are facing.

The public in Dunedin are invited to explore two interactive exhibitions in spaces in George Street and the H D Skinner Annex Gallery at Otago Museum and join workshops, performances and discussion events.

Ever wondered how a whale communicates? Enrol in a workshop to help assemble electronically enhanced umbrellas that respond with sound when entering Dunedin’s wi-fi ‘oceans’. Join a life-sized whale performance troupe, and join the project at the Museum opening (30 September) and the Vogel Street Party October 14, or come along and watch.

Sounding seeks to help us better understand our marine mammals’ aural environment, echo-location and sonic disruption in Otago’s oceans. It is a call to action for better management and research into the connections between noise pollution and the whales and dolphins of New Zealand. Parallels are made between land-based and ocean-based communication spaces that we can’t see.

This is the fourth Urban Dream Brokerage Dunedin Gig City commission, a commission programme that supports engaging and innovative data-rich arts and culture projects utilising digital technology in Dunedin city. Sounding is also funded by the Dunedin City Council, Creative New Zealand and supported by Otago Museum, Otago University and Otago Polytechnic.

Sounding has been created by Dunedin’s Caro McCaw, West Coast artist Vicki Smith and Taranaki Internet-of-things enthusiast Andrew Hornblow. Together they are working with Otago University whale researcher Professor Liz Slooten, sound artist Leyton Glen, the Otago Museum team, Otago University Marine Scientists and design students from Otago Polytechnic. The performances are being choreographed by artist Katrina Thomson.

Workshops

Join a workshop. Working umbrellas respond with sound whenever they enter into one of Dunedin’s wi-fi ‘oceans’!

Registration details: sounding.eventbrite.co.nz

Register to participate in pop-up whale performances

Volunteer whales are needed for public performances.

Contact thomson.katrina@gmail.com or sounding.eventbrite.co.nz

Find Out More: Symposium

Saturday Oct 7: Otago Museum’s Hutton Theatre

10am-12.30pm Hear from artists, scientists, and museum professionals about their varied work with our whales 

Film Screening Sonic Seas  1-2pm: followed by panel discussion 2pm

Tours of Otago Museum’s Marine Gallery

Saturday and Sunday 14-15 October, Otago Museum

Help whale and dolphin research

The NZ Whale and Dolphin Trust conduct research into the connections between whale strandings and oil exploration using sound. Sounding are collecting donations to support research.

or donate directly at http://whaledolphintrust.org.nz/take-action/donate/

Contact the team at sounding.nz