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Exhibitions and Events

World Without Ice

World without ice: Multimedia exhibit captures precarious moment in planet's historyDr. Henry Pollack (co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore), and musicians and composers Michael Gould and Stephen Rush recently collaborated to create a multimedia exhibit that captures our planet’s precarious moment in global warming.

The exhibit runs through March 28, from noon-7:30 p.m. each day, at U-M’s  Duderstadt Video Studio.

Henry Pollack (left) and Michael Gould

Henry Pollack (left) and Michael Gould

Part science, part music, part art, the collaboration is a groundbreaking, multi-sensory experience that is thought provoking and compelling. Using photographs taken at both poles of our planet by Dr. Pollack and his team, an original composition written by Dr. Rush using whose patterns and structure are derived from 120 years of climate data, and an ice-melt actuated rhythm created by 10 ice domes melting onto drums created by Dr. Gould, the exhibit creates an immersive space in which visitors can contemplate a warming planet.

Stephen Rush and Michael Gould have collaborated for many years. Water Blue was premiered at the Duderstadt Center at U-M, in Tokyo, Japan (2003) and then at the 2003 Percussive Arts Society International Conference in Louisville, KY. They also collaborated on Birth/Cry, a piece for video/electronics/French Horn and Percussion, which was premiered in Stockholm, Sweden, then performed many times in the U.S.  As jazz performers Gould and Rush have performed over 500 times together, working in traditional and overtly modern traditions, including performing with sculpted instruments such as “wrenchophones,” computer-mitigated performances, and experimental sound structure.

The piece takes its inspiration from Emeritus Professor of Geophysics Henry Pollack’s book on global warming, A World Without Ice. Using Dr. Pollack’s climate data, the music allows the listener to hear the large leaps in temperature and the melting ice provides a beautiful, random companion sound. The photographs run continuously on two large screens.

The Duderstadt Video Studio is located in the Duderstadt Center, 2281 Bonisteel Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. Reception desk: 734-763-3266. The studio will show the exhibit from noon-7:30 p.m.

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