Woody Sullender
 

Woody Sullender is an artist based in Brooklyn, NY. His work deals with the socio-political aspects of sound in various arenas such as public space, music, radio, and other media.

Recent work includes a disarmed ultrasonic speaker (a technology developed by the LRAD corporation for a variety of sonic weaponry) and a collaboration with Sergei Tcherepnin attempting to push the performance space towards a state of flux, requiring improvisation to navigate social roles and create new structures.

Other projects focus on the gesture of erasure as a means to empowerment in the cultural landscape. This has manifested in a range of media including a lathe-cut record of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" with most of the frequency spectrum excised and a series of illegal FM broadcasts of "erased" radio stations.

Over the past decade, Sullender has also emerged as a pre-eminent experimental banjo improvisor, exploring a range of identity politics while playing with and against the cultural baggage of the instrument. With technical advising from STEIM and Harvestworks, he has developed an "electro-acoustic banjo", rupturing its rustic identity.

Previously, Sullender has worked with pioneering electronic composers such as Pauline Oliveros and Maryanne Amacher (incorporating his banjo recordings into Amacher's "TEO! A sonic sculpture" which won the Golden Nica prize at the 2005 Ars Electronica festival).

Among other activites, he teaches new media at various New York institutions and occasionally can be heard on the airwaves at WFMU.



4 Dec 2011
Lots of activity before the holidays. I have a new instalation piece based on an ultrasonic speaker in a show opening this Thursday Dec. 8th. It is part of "Notice of Public Hearing", a show at Sculpture Center which culminated out of the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts residency.

Should have documentation up as well as a few other old pieces over the holidays

Also, thanks to Kevin and Chris at UVa and Dustin at Bowerbird in Philly for the recent opportunities to present my new project with Sergei Tcherepnin

29 October 2011
Lots of things coming up. A series of performances with Sergei Tcherepnin kicks off at Soloway gallery this Friday!

11 October 2011
Been busy and not updating this site. Work up at the Moscow Biennale at the moment. Exciting new performances coming up at NurtureArt and Soloway in Brooklyn. Check out the calendar.

27 June 2011
I'm wrapping up my residency at Harvestworks with a big concert this Sunday, July 3rd at St. Paul's Chapel.

28 may 2011
There's a few projects in the works, but excited to be scheduled in this year's River to River festival in NYC, performing at the historic St. Paul's Chapel on July 3rd. Thanks to Harvestworks and the New York Electronic Art Festival for curating me in.

1 apr 2011
This Tuesday I'll be introducing my installation "Whispering Spectres" at Pace Digital Gallery. This coincides with the launch of a web version, all part of a commission from Turbulence. Link to come soon!

archived news items

December 8 - 19 @ Sculpture Center, Queens, NY
as part of "Notice of Public Hearing" exhibit
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts residency exhibition
opening Dec. 8th


archived calendar