Vibe³ (Vibe Cube) is a sound installation incorporating collected, donated, and archived sounds that express the “spirit of place”. Part of the Genius Loci/OpenSpace Programme, it was commissioned by Essex County Council.
Between January and September 2009, residents of Colchester, Harlow and Basildon were invited to submit both recordings and ideas for recordings which reflect the history, character, and the unique feel of their area – anything from wildlife to nightlife. As well as the public submissions, artists Damien Robinson and Stuart Bowditch collected foundsounds and researched the sound archives at Essex Sound and Video Archive. The recordings were collected and redeveloped into an ever-changing sound mix, which was played back via the Vibe Cube itself. The Cube was exhibited at locations in the towns and extracts from the work have been uploaded to the Vibe Cube website. The Vibe Cube itself is not just a sound experience; using an innovative form of technology, it becomes a resonating instrument where sounds can be experienced by touch as well as heard.
NEWS: Return of the Vibe Cube - the new "Four Towns" mix (Colchester, Basildon, Harlow and Southend) will be on show as part of the Sensation Festival
21-28 September 2013 - Rivermead Gallery, Anglia Ruskin University
At the end of the project we donated all the collected recordings to the Archive Essex Sound Archive, where it will help to form a more detailed historical picture of our county, what it is like now and how it is changing.
You can listen to recordings made from the Cube below; each track focuses on the mix constructed from recordings linked to a particular location.
NEWS: Return of the Vibe Cube - the new "Four Towns" mix (Colchester, Basildon, Harlow and Southend) will be on show as part of the Sensation Festival
21-28 September 2013 - Rivermead Gallery, Anglia Ruskin University
At the end of the project we donated all the collected recordings to the Archive Essex Sound Archive, where it will help to form a more detailed historical picture of our county, what it is like now and how it is changing.
You can listen to recordings made from the Cube below; each track focuses on the mix constructed from recordings linked to a particular location.
Details of where and when the work was shown are at the bottom of this entry. You can check out our diary pages on The Open Space website here to read how the project developed (update Aug 2012; Open Space website currently undergoing maintenance - the link will be restored once this work is completed).
The Vibe Cube project was also developed in Southend with residents contributing sound and ideas for sounds in the run up to the cube being exhibited at TAP. See here for details.
We have published a CD featuring real-time recordings from the different mixes (contact us for more information) and Essex County Council have produced the publication 'Open Space; conversations on place, people and art', featuring an essay by artist and curator Jane Watt, and conversations on each of the four Open Space projects. The Vibe Cube conversation is with Martin Astell, archivist at Essex Sound and Video Archive. See bottom of the page for a pdf of the publication, which gives details of how to obtain the printed version.
The Vibe Cube project was also developed in Southend with residents contributing sound and ideas for sounds in the run up to the cube being exhibited at TAP. See here for details.
We have published a CD featuring real-time recordings from the different mixes (contact us for more information) and Essex County Council have produced the publication 'Open Space; conversations on place, people and art', featuring an essay by artist and curator Jane Watt, and conversations on each of the four Open Space projects. The Vibe Cube conversation is with Martin Astell, archivist at Essex Sound and Video Archive. See bottom of the page for a pdf of the publication, which gives details of how to obtain the printed version.
Open Space
The Open Space project was part of a major three year public art project ‘Genius Loci’, developed and funded by Essex County Council involving a total of fourteen art projects that develop notions of ‘spirit of place’ across the county.
‘Genius Loci’ has two main goals: to involve artists in the design teams on capital projects; and to establish new dialogue about public art with a focus on sustainability. This, it is proposed, will help improve the image of Essex as an exciting and vibrant place to live.
Four Open Space projects took place across the county in 2009: you can read more about these projects on the Commissions East website.
Genius Loci will be the subject of the Winter 2010 edition of Art and Architecture journal. See Art & Architecture conferences
‘Genius Loci’ has two main goals: to involve artists in the design teams on capital projects; and to establish new dialogue about public art with a focus on sustainability. This, it is proposed, will help improve the image of Essex as an exciting and vibrant place to live.
Four Open Space projects took place across the county in 2009: you can read more about these projects on the Commissions East website.
Genius Loci will be the subject of the Winter 2010 edition of Art and Architecture journal. See Art & Architecture conferences
The Vibe Cube was shown at
14-18 May 09: Basildon Centre (Foyer area) St. Martin's Square Basildon.
25th-28th June 09: Harlow Library (exhibition area), The High, Harlow.
23-27 July 09: Colchester Library (Les Livres Gallery) Trinity Square, Colchester.
20th-24th August 09: Essex Record Office (home of Essex Sound Archive) Wharf Rd Chelmsford. See Essex Sound Archive.
Additional Venue: 11th-13th September 09: The original VibeCube was shown alongside our low-tech work commissioned by Cuckoo Farm Studios, Boxted Rd, Colchester, CO4 5HH. See Outside 09
2010 showings
20 March - One day showing at ambient.space, London
28-30 May - Accidental Festival, Battersea Arts Centre
The Cube went on show for three days at the Accidental Festival at Battersea Arts Centre, 28-30 May (see here (Accidental Festival site). ) for more information). Some great feedback from people, including a post it from the Festival Director 'I loved this ever since I saw the application - I feel privileged to have it at the Festival. Thanks for sharing it with us.'
25th-28th June 09: Harlow Library (exhibition area), The High, Harlow.
23-27 July 09: Colchester Library (Les Livres Gallery) Trinity Square, Colchester.
20th-24th August 09: Essex Record Office (home of Essex Sound Archive) Wharf Rd Chelmsford. See Essex Sound Archive.
Additional Venue: 11th-13th September 09: The original VibeCube was shown alongside our low-tech work commissioned by Cuckoo Farm Studios, Boxted Rd, Colchester, CO4 5HH. See Outside 09
2010 showings
20 March - One day showing at ambient.space, London
28-30 May - Accidental Festival, Battersea Arts Centre
The Cube went on show for three days at the Accidental Festival at Battersea Arts Centre, 28-30 May (see here (Accidental Festival site). ) for more information). Some great feedback from people, including a post it from the Festival Director 'I loved this ever since I saw the application - I feel privileged to have it at the Festival. Thanks for sharing it with us.'
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