A one-hundred-hour live audio broadcast from the Metabolic Studio, the site of the Motherwell of the Los Angeles River, to a silo in Payahuunadu. Available to listen to online.
Metabolic Studio Sonic Division investigates how sound waves generate physical and biological change and exchange across landscapes. Our practice seeks to activate living systems through vibration and observe how sound has the potential to shift stagnant or stalled energies, mitigate entropy, and impact ecological health. Sonic Division also experiments with a range of transmission networks as a framework for articulating environmental, cultural, and historical narratives by way of live project cams, satellite radio, and fm/am broadcasting.
Our project investigates the potential for harnessing the natural power of wind to create environmental change. As the winds traverse through the Deepest Valley, they carry more than just air; they embody the force and frequency that could be used to reshape the landscape itself. Payahuunadu, (also known as Owens Lake), once a vast body of water, now lies desiccated, its bed exposed and laden with toxic dust that poses severe health and environmental risks
The indigenous Paiute, who called their land Payahuunadu, or “place of flowing water,” once thrived here in an area rich with glacial lakes and diverse ecosystems. Today, remnants of this past linger on the lake’s edge, where a network of silos, once part of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Factory, stands. This factory ceased operations in 1958 following a significant earthquake and now marks a site of historical transition from industrial use to ecological contemplation.
In 2010, Metabolic Studio began reimagining these structures as sonic spaces. Transforming the giant steel silos into musical instruments, we connected the site via internet radio, turning these sessions into weekly devotional conduits for reparation and remediation. Through performative actions at the PPG silos, Metabolic Studio aims to forge a deep, resonant connection between Los Angeles and the source of its water—highlighting the city’s dependence and impact on Payahuunadu. This site has become a venue for artistic and ecological reflection, linking the city’s urban expansion with the altered landscapes that facilitated its growth. Through this transformative effort, we seek to reconcile with and restore the deep ecological narratives embedded in this land.
The program is presented as part of Fulcrum Festival 2024: Waves Upon Waves.