Aural Architecture 2023 — Mallory Yanhan Qiu

AURAL ARCHITECTURE

Listening is the Other Half of How We Know

NON:op Open Opera Works and the Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology team up with the Chicago Architecture Center to present Aural Architecture: Listening is the Other Half of How We Know for the 2023 Open House Chicago.

This special program invites participants to enjoy the dynamic features of the architectural surroundings, including the acoustic design of the built environment. The sound activities led by Mallory Yanhan Qiu, Eric Leonardson, and Christophe Preissing.

Flyer Designed by Mallory Yanhan Qiu

About the Church

Our building was built in 1967 by Edward Dart.
He designed the gate, courtyard, narthex and nave so that walking in would feel like entering a monastery, a retreat from the street into the hospitality of the wide worship space.
Lutherans are liturgical.
Our worship connects us to the long tradition of Jewish and Christian worship.
Lutherans are sacramental.
God's grace comes to us through the bread and wine we receive at the altar. designed by Dart.
We receive grace through the waters of baptism at Dart's font.
Scripture and the preaching and teaching that come from that at Dart's ambo are central.
We take Scripture seriously, but not literally.
We talk about spirit, but also science.
Our national church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is progressive and intentionally welcoming of all people.
You can visit the columbarium, a place of rest for ashes, in our garden. Egon Weiner, the sculptor of Paul there and Jesus in the courtyard, was a member of Augustana.

About the Sound Activities

Join us in a series of captivating sound activities designed to heighten your senses and expand your awareness of the surrounding environment:

Listen

Stand still for one minute with your eyes closed. Open your eyes and share your observations. How did your feelings and attention change?

Echolocation

Understand the significance of sound in spatial navigation. Use a toy metal clicker to explore time differences between the original sound and its reflection, delving into the nuances of echo and reverberation.

Eigentones

Learn to create a single pitch, long tone with your voice and explore eigentones as you move through the space. Can you identify them? Experience the amplification of our voice as it resonates with the surroundings.

Vespers by Alvin Lucier

Dive into the world of human communication with dolphins through the innovative Sondol device. Experience the intricate textures created by Sondol players as they navigate the acoustic signature of the enclosed space, bringing a new dimension to the auditory experience.