DESCRIPTION

In this piece Russell J. Chartier explores the sense of confinement that many people feel living in large cities despite the many people around them. The piece, created using manipulated footage shot throughout NYC, consists of textures comprised of feedback loops uplinked to satellites then downlinked back to Earth. These “feedback loops” were manipulated with various pieces of broadcast equipment through the looping process and were then further manipulated in the post production process. The textures and manipulated footage were then woven together to create this work.

The musical component of this work was created through the use of a granular sampling algorithm developed by the composer, Paul J. Botelho The algorithm, written in the ChucK programming language, randomly chooses small fragments (grains) from an input sound, shapes their attack and decay, and then creates textures of user-specified density constructed of the sound fragments. The algorithmically-generated textures were then manipulated and layered to create this work.

The piece was created through synchronicity—the composer Botelho and video artist Chartier had no knowledge of each other's component and worked only with an agreed upon duration during the creation of their individual pieces. Only upon the completion of both the video and audio components were two components combined to create “Confined 10-01-2”.

Bio

Russell J. Chartier attended the College of Santa Fe. Since that time he has spent many years working in Broadcast Television working for various networks including A&E, The History Channel, YES Network and several others. His work in the Video Art Medium explores multiple layers and focuses heavily on texture and color. Many of the images in his works are distorted and manipulated in various unorthodox in an attempt to create a visual depth where recognizable images will appear within the collage of manipulated images and textures.

Paul J. Botelho

The work of composer Paul J. Botelho focuses on the interaction between live and computer performance. His compositions include many varied works that utilize extended techniques, alternate tuning systems, as well as the interaction of new and old mediums. He performs as a vocalist, guitarist, and pianist, often in improvisatory situations. Botelho has composed and performed a series of one-act
operas that incorporate live acoustic instruments and electronic components. These works encompass all of his varied disciplines and represent the breadth of his work. He received his Ph.D. in Music Composition from Princeton University, M.A. in Electro-Acoustic Music from Dartmouth College, and B.F.A in Contemporary Music Composition and Performance from the College of Santa Fe. He currently is Assistant Professor of Music Technology at Loyola University New Orleans.