thirteen sounds
breathe – taste the air
try spinning – allow your body to fall loudly
follow the sounds – as leisurely as you’d think they might follow you
sing along with the numbers – or scream?
sit down and feel the ground – how can it support you?
hear the sky and the trees and the birds – listen intently, and do nothing else at all
while you’re here, this space is just for you – breathe.
10:23am
musical improvisation
lily gibson, violin
vera much, guitar
11:41am
musical improvisation
luke taylor, upright bass
vera much, bird calls
12:10pm
musical & spatial improvisation
garrett crusan, electric guitar
veda carmine-ritchie, movement
12:31pm
bird calls
vera much, microphone
2:19pm
contact improvisation
jenna taus, movement
elisha aflalo, movement
3:28pm
contact improvisation (accidental doublings)
lou brownlee & riven badgett, movement & laughter
5:27pm
“maskings”, a vocal composition by vera much
performed by vera much, chrysanthemum ahmed, cadence boyce, christain ashley, lily gibson, nicholas pertz kelley, grace muller, & remzi yildirim
under the direction of kyoko kitamura
8:21pm
musical improvisation
pogo stump, erhu, melodica, & talking drum
vera much, guitar, talking drum, & chains
a spatial sound installation by vera much
“thirteen sounds” is an exploration in safety, self, and space. the number 13's multiples are used as numerical building blocks to create simple rhythmic patterns; these patterns repeat for 13 hours; at first, trickling sparsely, then swelling midday, and ebbing into the night. the space was open for two weeks in Southwest Vermont during May of 2022. above is documentation of the artist, & several of her friends and collaborators, interacting with the sounds and the space they occupy.
this project was funded in part by both the Bennington Student Endowment for the Arts & Isabelle Baker Woolley Fund.
special thanks to Gweneth Asher, Dr. Senem Pirler, Nick Brooke, Michael Wimberly, and most especially the number thirteen.
everything constructed, composed, and created by vera much.
if you would be interested in hosting “thirteen sounds", or commissioning a similar work from vera much, send all inquiries to thankyouveramuch@gmail.com.