Working at Fuzzy Boundaries NoiseFold ventures into the world of glass

Form & concept celebrates its first anniversary on May 26 with a special installation by NoiseFold, a collaboration between interactive media and sound artist Cory Metcalf and visual artist, composer and performer David Stout.

“We are trans-disciplinary artists working at the fuzzy boundary blurring nexus of visual art, music and interactive cinema,” explain Metcalf and Stout, who presented their first evening length work under the name NoiseFold in 2006. “Our work is hybridized, both solitary and social, often involving close collaboration with virtuosic performers, programmers, designers and scientists.”

NoiseFold’s installation features glass sculptures they created during an invited residency at the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington last summer.

One series of eight pieces shows the evolution of a glass form from a sphere to three stacked cones. A video projected in the gallery is an animated visualization of the evolutionary process.

NoiseFold’s cast hot glass piece “SWARM CASTE” is a glass sculpture that was created by using techniques mimicking evolutionary processes that are similar to techniques utilized by NoiseFold in their live performances and immersive installations.

“The piece was created using a generative hacking approach programmed by Cory that takes existing equations that describe classical 3D geometric shapes and substitutes new numeric variables to produce wide variations in visual form,” explains Stout. “The resulting virtual objects are further edited to create a 3D model that is then used to fabricate a graphite mold. “SWARM CASTE” is realized by pouring hot glass into the digitally fabricated mold to replicate a series of 19 bio-morphic tiles in a unique arrangement.”

As part of form & concept’s anniversary festivities, visitors are invited to dress in superhero costumes. All costumed guests gain access to a VIP cereal bar set up in the gallery. “We want to remind the community that creativity can change the world,” says gallery director Frank Rose. “What better way to do that than by donning super powered costumes?”

DJ Ginger Dunnill provides music for the celebration, while the food truck El Sabor Spanish Tapas Y Mass serves food in the form & concept parking lot.