Series of 10 listening horns. L-R Bebo, Elmo, Cono, Wild One, Belder, Oak, DarkFront, The Beak, Malm, Medge, wood, beeswax, linseed oil and/or shellac (Garnet Lac). Special thanks to Jon Reginald Wilson for turning the interiors, other assistance, and for his mentoring during the process.
L-R, The Beak, Maple, beeswax. linseed oil, 4.25” diameter x 6.75” high, Dark Front, Box Elder, beeswax. linseed oil, 4” diameter x 7” high, and Elmo. Elm, beeswax. linseed oil, 5.5” diameter x 8.75” high
Photography: Stacey Evans
L-R Belder, Box Elder, beeswax. linseed oil, 4” diameter x 11” high and Oak, Oak, beeswax. linseed oil, 4.5” diameter x 8” high (with linen sac)
Photography: Stacey Evans
L-R, Cono, Maple and Garnet Lac shellac, beeswax. linseed oil, 6.75” diameter x 8” high, Bebo, Maple, beeswax. linseed oil, 3.25” diameter x 5.25” high, Malm, Maple, Elm, beeswax. linseed oil, 4.5” diameter x 8.5” high
Photography: Stacey Evans
L-R, Wild One (with preserved bark and listening channel through a branch), Maple, beeswax. llinseed oil, 6.5” diameter x 8” high, Mege, Maple, beeswax. linseed oil, 3.25” diameter x 5.25” high
Photography: Stacey Evans
Map of walk from Marinaressa Garden to S. Elena and return
Examining plants at the meeting point in the Marinaressa Garden
Listening on the Rive’ outside the Bienalle Gardens
Examining lichen growth near the Bienalle Motoscafi ferry stop
Detail showing loupe over lichen on wall
View of lichen as seen through loupe
Listening to water and boats
Listening on the Rive’ at S. Elena
Three listeners on the Rive’ at S. Elena
Walking and listening in S. Elena
Examining a wall in S. Elena
What is seen on the wall through the loupe
What is seen through the loupe on another part of the wall
Crossing a canal
Examining a color on a stainless steel mesh panel
What we saw through a loupe
Examining a brick wall
Traversing a street, listening and examining surfaces
Graffiti seen near the end of our walk
Detail of graffiti “Future?”
Sensory Walks in Venice: A Series of Three Walks
Walk One — Giardini della Marinaressa Levante to St. Elena
Sponsored by the European Cultural Center in Venice, Italy
2024
Map of walk in Cannaregio beginning at Palazzo Moro
Learning to use the horns and lenses
Listening to a canal
Listening to ambient sound
Examining lichen on stone
Detail of lens
Photographing lichen through the lens
Lichen as seen through the lens and camera
Listening to sounds on the canal
Examining plants in the garden
Listening to sounds of water trickling
Examining plants in the garden
A flower seen through the lens
Examining a plant’s stem
Observing Japanese Lantern Plant
Listening in the garden
Listening in Yu Hong’s exhibition to Nico Muhly’s soundscape (2 minute sample: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCAABdquXzi/?hl=en)
Listening along a fondementa
Listening to the canal
Examining an eroded brick wall
The wall as seen through a lens
Looking closely at plants growing in a crevice
Last stop, surrounded by water, listening and framing a view with the small end of the horn
Surrounded by water
Sensory Walks in Venice: A Series of Three Walks
Walk Two — Palazzo Moro to a garden overlooking the lagoon in Cannaregio
Sponsored by the European Cultural Center in Venice, Italy
2024
Map of walk from Marinaressa Gardens to Certosa Island
Looking through the lens
Group heading out of Marinaressa Levante Garden as the Walk begins
Trying the horns for listening at the Giardini Vaporetto Pavillion
Using the horns to sight boats out on the Lagoon
Approaching an abandoned boat in by St Elena Riva’
Examining the abandoned boat using the lenses
Image of one of the lenses positioned for a photograph
Weathered plastic seen through the lens
Another portion of the weathered plastic seen through the lens
Listening to the sounds on the ferry
Arrival and walking on the path on Certosa Island
Listening towards forest and water
Walking towards entry to an abandoned structure
Preparing to examine the paving within the abandoned structure
Plants are rewarding to view through the lens
Examining, and scoping out, lichen on a stone capstone
Close scrutiny of the lichen
View of lichen through a lens
Listening to sounds on the Lagoon
Examining Barnacles with the lenses
Concentrated listening to rigging tapping masts, and waves lapping the seawall
Examining tree bark
Lichens on a tree
Examining the lichens
Lichens seen through the lens
Group image of walkers before boarding the ferry back to the main island of Venice

1 min. video, sound art sculpture installed by the German Pavilion, Venice Bienalle’24
Sensory Walks in Venice: A Series of Three Walks
Walk Three — Giardini della Marinaressa Levante for walk on La Certosa Island beginning with a Vaporetto ride
Sponsored by the European Cultural Center in Venice, Italy
2024
Open Spaces Walk for Kansas City
A sound and sight walk was taken each Saturday during the 8-week exhibition.
Fox Hollow Nature Center at Swope Park, Kansas City, Missouri
2018
The Walk that Connects
an interactive walk including participatory observation and
absorption, silence and contemplation, with Karen McCoy. 2017 Prairie Fest Artist and special guests Wes Jackson, Bill Vitek, Aubrey Streit Krug.
The Land Institute, Salina, Kansas
2017
Pigment Walk to locate earth colors for use in drawing memory drawings on paper
Listening horns made in workshop from memories of walk
Listening in the courtyard of the archaeological museum at Delphi
Listening in the courtyard of the archaeological museum at Delphi
Listening in the courtyard of the archaeological museum at Delphi
Listening at the site of the Tholos at Delphi
Performing John Cage’s 4’33” at the site of the Tholos at Delphi
Performing John Cage’s 4’33” at the site of the Tholos at Delphi
The Loch in the Ravine, North Woods, three days before the Sound and Sight Walk.
(photo: Karen McCoy)
Listening to a waterfall on the Loch, Ten hand carved wooden burl trumpets used by participants, walk planned and led by Karen McCoy by invitation of the Walk Exchange, NY.
(photo: Ian Cochran)
Listening to wind in the dry oak leaves at the Blockhouse, Ten hand carved wooden burl trumpets used by participants, walk planned and led by Karen McCoy by invitation of the Walk Exchange, NY.
(photo: Karen McCoy)
Listening to water trickling under ice on the Loch, Ten hand carved wooden burl trumpets used by participants, walk planned and led by Karen McCoy by invitation of the Walk Exchange, NY.
(photo: Karen McCoy)
Lydia listening intently to the Loch, hand carved wooden burl trumpet in use, walk planned and led by Karen McCoy by invitation of the Walk Exchange, NY.
(photo: Julius)
Maureen listening intently in the North Woods, Sound and Sight Walk, Central Park, New York City, March 8, 2015, hand carved wooden burl trumpet in use, walk planned and led by Karen McCoy by invitation of the Walk Exchange, NY. (photo: Karen McCoy)
Michele, Raleigh, Maureen and Doug listening at the Loch, Sound and Sight Walk in the North Woods of Central Park, New York City, March 8, 2015. Ten handcarved wooden burl ear trumpets used by participants. Walk planned and led by Karen McCoy by invitation of the Walk Exchange, NY.
(photo: Karen McCoy)
The youngest listener in the North Woods, Sound and Sight Walk, Central Park, New York City, March 8, 2015. Ten handcarved wooden burl ear trumpets used by participants. Walk planned and led by Karen McCoy by invitation of the Walk Exchange, NY. (photo: Virginia Millington)
Listening to waves striking the rocks at Hartigan Beach, ten hand carved wooden burl trumpets used by participants, walk planned and led by Karen McCoy, sponsored by Alternative Spacetime 1300 (artist residency), Chicago, IL. (photo: Caro d’Offay)
Listening to waves striking the rocks at Hartigan Beach, ten hand carved wooden burl trumpets used by participants, walk planned and led by Karen McCoy, sponsored by Alternative Spacetime 1300 (artist residency), Chicago, IL. (photo: Caro d’Offay)
Listening to waves striking the rocks at Hartigan Beach, ten hand carved wooden burl trumpets used by participants, walk planned and led by Karen McCoy, sponsored by Alternative Spacetime 1300 (artist residency), Chicago, IL. (photo: Caro d’Offay)
Listening to water lapping the Tony Prinz Beach, hand carved wooden burl trumpet in use, walk planned and led by Karen McCoy, sponsored by Alternative Spacetime 1300 (artist residency), Chicago, IL. (photo: Karen McCoy)
Performing John Cage’s 4’33” at Loyola Dunes Beach, hand carved wooden burl trumpets in use, walk planned and led by Karen McCoy, sponsored by Alternative Spacetime 1300 (artist residency), Chicago, IL. (photo: Karen McCoy)
Print, Cut and Fold open source paper listening trumpet, 2014, original drawing with pigments found in Wales on black Stonehenge paper, shown in listening position. The trumpet must be carefully aimed at sound source to function at maximum potential.
Pattern for Print, Cut and Fold open source paper listening trumpet, 2014, original drawing with pigments found in Wales on black Stonehenge paper, 9x 12”.
Print, Cut and Fold open source paper listening trumpet, 2014, original drawing with pigments found in Wales on black Stonehenge paper, shown rolled with tabs partially inserted in slots.
Print, Cut and Fold open source paper listening trumpet, 2014, original drawing with pigments found in Wales on black Stonehenge paper, shown rolled with tabs inserted in slots and ready for listening.
Footwork group leaving CAT to walk with Jess Owens to the wind turbine array in the Welsh countryside that was the subject of her film.
Footwork members walking with Jess Owens to the wind turbine array in the Welsh countryside that was the subject of her film. L to R, Micha Meyers, Moira Williams, Mark Hunter and Clare Qualman
Footwork members walking with Jess Owens to the wind turbine array in the Welsh countryside that was the subject of her film.
The goal of the 20 mile hike, the wind turbine that was the subject of Jess Owens’ film.
Slate formations near the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), Machynlleth, Wales, source material for drawing
Folding Paper Trumpet for a Listening Walk
Inspired by slate formations near the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT)
Machynlleth, Wales
2014
Sight and Sound Walks, collaboration with Robert Carl, listeners with horns on the Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Mountains, VA
Photography: John S. Taylor
Sight and Sound Walks, collaboration with Robert Carl, listeners with horns on the Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Mountains, VA
Photography: John S. Taylor
Sight and Sound Walks, collaboration with Robert Carl, listeners with horns on the Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Mountains, VA
Photography: John S. Taylor
Sight and Sound Walks, collaboration with Robert Carl, listener with horn at Stony Creek, Blue Ridge Mountains, VA
Sight and Sound Walks, collaboration with Robert Carl, listener on the Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Mountains, VA
Photography: John S. Taylor
Sight and Sound Walks, collaboration with Robert Carl, listeners with the horns at the Fringe Tree Overlook, Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Mountains, VA
Photography: John S. Taylor