This sculptural and sonic installation by Ellensburg's Josh Humphrey invites you to explore your senses beyond vision and into the realm of tactile sensitivity and sonic resonance. Enjoy a bev and a snack and visit with the artist himself!
"As a luthier, or musical instrument builder, I approach wood from the standpoint of resonance. Always evaluating, comparing, utilizing, and designing the quality, duration, color and sustain of the materials.
On an individual level, each piece has a certain resonance and sustain that influences the structure. As a whole, the parts will affect each other as they are coupled, shaped, designed and arranged.
Over time, this concept resonates in the work- the guitars evolve in a certain tonal realm, reflecting my preferences as well as the musicians I build for. This becomes somewhat of an instinct, which deeply affects every choice I make as a sonic builder.
Ideas seep in overtime and resonate through sketchbooks over decades. The most recent work, the crank sculpture, has been resonating in my brain for more than 15 years, and is finally emerging as a finished piece, as a collaboration with my dad.
My dad is a technology wizard and can make into reality the structures needed to create these types of sonic sculptures. He uses 3D printing and CNC carving with CAD software. I hope we get to make more of these creations in the future.
The exhibitThis exhibit features work spanning from my first guitar build in 1997, to the most current experimental piece in collaboration with my dad. The works span from luthiery, to kalimbas, to decorative and interactive sculpture.
The Raga guitar began as a suggestion from a friend about a decade ago and continues to develop as a played instrument. It is designed specifically to play Hindustani music.
There are about 30 to 40 players of this newly invented instrument in the world- mostly in the Seattle area. In collaboration (I teach some of them as well as play myself) the design keeps changing to reflect important aesthetic aspects of Hindustani music. You can have a glimpse of this process in this exhibit.
Sketches are included, clustered thematically to give a window into the creative process. There are many iterations and design drawings that echo the resonance of these ideas as they developed in my brain, often while I should have been sleeping."
- Josh Humphrey
"As a luthier, or musical instrument builder, I approach wood from the standpoint of resonance. Always evaluating, comparing, utilizing, and designing the quality, duration, color and sustain of the materials.
On an individual level, each piece has a certain resonance and sustain that influences the structure. As a whole, the parts will affect each other as they are coupled, shaped, designed and arranged.
Over time, this concept resonates in the work- the guitars evolve in a certain tonal realm, reflecting my preferences as well as the musicians I build for. This becomes somewhat of an instinct, which deeply affects every choice I make as a sonic builder.
Ideas seep in overtime and resonate through sketchbooks over decades. The most recent work, the crank sculpture, has been resonating in my brain for more than 15 years, and is finally emerging as a finished piece, as a collaboration with my dad.
My dad is a technology wizard and can make into reality the structures needed to create these types of sonic sculptures. He uses 3D printing and CNC carving with CAD software. I hope we get to make more of these creations in the future.
The exhibitThis exhibit features work spanning from my first guitar build in 1997, to the most current experimental piece in collaboration with my dad. The works span from luthiery, to kalimbas, to decorative and interactive sculpture.
The Raga guitar began as a suggestion from a friend about a decade ago and continues to develop as a played instrument. It is designed specifically to play Hindustani music.
There are about 30 to 40 players of this newly invented instrument in the world- mostly in the Seattle area. In collaboration (I teach some of them as well as play myself) the design keeps changing to reflect important aesthetic aspects of Hindustani music. You can have a glimpse of this process in this exhibit.
Sketches are included, clustered thematically to give a window into the creative process. There are many iterations and design drawings that echo the resonance of these ideas as they developed in my brain, often while I should have been sleeping."
- Josh Humphrey
