New Sound Org. GIRRLSOUND for women working in soundarts

Though there is a burgeoning
interest emerging in sounding artworks, … ‘there is little discourse about this
genre that has come from an analysis of the artworks themselves.’ Bandt Sound
Sculpture (13)
 
So Paula, I ask you this –
where are the women in [sounding] digital media?*
 
The inattention to aural experience
in the construction of human subjectivity is undoubtedly coincidental with a
general emphasis in critical debates on visual representation, an emphasis
which is attributed to the priority given to vision in a Western culture
dominated by patriarchal principles … A similar depreciation of the female
voice and a usurpation of its creative potential is to be found in contemporary
media representations.
Jean Fisher- Reflections On
Echo—Sound By Women Artists In Britain
 
 
Hi, as a sound artist/researcher,
I am hearing the need for an umbrella organization for women working in the
sound arts that will address some of the ghettoizing, fracturing and silence
around women working in sound.
 
Decided it was time to do
something about it, I have put together this site Girrlsound
http://girrlsound.blogspot.com/, with its online forum. But Girrlsound needs
your  input .. how should it be
shaped, what areas does it need to cover? What are the gaps you see in the
genre … industry?
 
(ROUGH FOR GIRRLSOUND)
 
What is Girrlsound ::
Girrlsound is an ‘about to be
released’ organization promoting and representing contemporary women in sound
and their work/thinking/research, with an online web interface/presence,
containing a forum discussion group
Girrlsound is a resource space
for women sound artists, of others artist’s works, sound theory, tools and
opportunities for exhibitions and collaborations
Girrlsound is an organization
for arranging and presenting projects and sound works
Girrlsound is a distribution
site for innovative women’s sound works
Girrlsound presents local and
web-based workshops in sound technology and creativity, and professional
practice …
 
 
Vision
::
We believe that new things are
being said in culture with digital media especially sound based media. This
development through creative and critical engagement with contemporary art
media and practices enables and inspires people to become active co-creators of
their contemporarily culture and societies. This co-creativity must include women.
Women are saying things with sound, creating new digital languages and
technologies for articulation. Girrlsound makes that sound heard.
 
 
Mission ::
Girrlsound is a co-creative
space that appreciates, acknowledges and promoters women’s unique contribution
to the field of sound art
Girrlsound presents women’s
sound work for discussion
Girrlsound facilitates dialogue
and discussion through online forums
Girrlsound provides
distribution and publication opportunities for women
Girrlsound offers and links new
sound collaborative relationships
 
 
Our areas of activity can be
categorized as ::
•       All things Sound
•       Gender & Sound Arts
Practice
•       Girrlsound Sound Theory
•       Sound & Context
•       Sound &
Language/Image/Voice/Word/Text
•       Sound at the margins
•       Low tech and high tech
•      
Scoring/Improvisation/Composition/Performance
•       Reviewing/Curating &
Archiving
•       Listening Practice –
distribution
•       Sound projects
 
 
Terms ::
Sound art :: creative use of
non-musical sound, often by artists who are not ‘musicians’, installations,
environmental sound, radio art, sound sculpture, etc.
Hybrid :: experimental use of
concepts or instruments from other cultures; Text :: focus on spoken language,
often emphasizing sound over meaning.
Sonic :: of or relating to
audible sound.
Sonic art ::  sound/art of or relating to art/sound
Sound art ::  sound/art of or relating to art/sound
Cochlea’d sound :: audible
sound
Non-cochlea’d sound ::
non-audible sound
Sound art = Sonic art
 
This is what I have put
together for discussion …
Girrlsound has a web-based
frame to offer a forum for reflection, discussion etc, upload space for
promoting  and presenting women’s
sound works, articles, publishing and reviews, resources, links etc. In the
near future Girrlsound plans to offer podcasts. Key to the aims of Girrlsound
is the offering of public and online workshops for the technical and creative
development of women working in sound. Further extensions, as in stage 2,  will be a real space
exhibition/performing program … 
the inclusion of a ‘women in digital media arm’, and the setting up of a
public outreach program hub using collaboration and participatory co-creation
processes in digital technologies to articulate difference and inclusiveness in
lives and cultures.
 
I am in conversation with
British and American sound artists who wish to be involved. It is my intension
to apply for funding and in kind support and partnerships from various sources.
I’m distributing questionnaires re the needs of woman in sound on relevant list
serves and presenting the project to as many woman  and sound orgs as possible, so I can to gage interest and
feedback. I am speaking to leaders 
in the field in Australia as well as international artists. I foresee
that Girrlsound flourishes with collaborative partnerships.
 
Girrlsound plans to begin doing
interviews and reviews of sound artists work during the coming six months.
Girrlsound will launch herself officially at a Sound based symposium offered
through the Block at Queensland University of Technology, (QUT) Brisbane, in
June 2012. It is expected that these symposiums will be held bi-annually and
engage with international sound artists/organizations providing, critical
engagement, discussion, linkages, projects, shows etc
 
The 2012 Girrlsound Symposium
will be a one or two day program, with a series of panels, and  two or three guest speakers. The
Girrlsound Symposium will address important areas for woman in the sonic arts.
It is planned that there would be launched with this event, a series of new
sound projects for woman at that time, tied in with discussion of future  plans i.e. publications (text and
sonic) and performance exhibition possibilities … possible themes could be …
 
Do girrls sound different?
Loop- fade- dissolve: common
notions that strangle sound art.
What is sound art by women,
sounding out?
What is so shocking about sound
art anyway?
How can sound art effect
political change(s)?
The ethical frame speaks up?
Underground, DIY, Circuit bending
Girrlsound
Remix play … Performance –
presentations
                                                         ….
 
I am looking for interest, and
support for this idea, I would really appreciate your feedback, contribution
and comments …
 
I would like two other authors,
besides myself, to work on web reviews, articles etc. I am seeking people for
these positions at present. I am also looking for speakers  and ideas for the symposium. So what do
you think, would you like to be involved? Contribute? Write a review?
Cheers (in sound)
 
Majena Mafe
Girrlsound
http://girrlsound.blogspot.com/
[email protected]