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Sights and Sounds, a collectible vinyl record produced as part of the residency SU-CASA. The Side A presents four stories collected from the core group of senior participants who shared personal narratives about their sonic experiences living in the city of New York. Side B contains the soundscapes of the actual places and samples of sound archives mentioned in their personal narratives.  The core members of the group who took part were: Al Kurchin Dolores Ranghelli John Twomey Herman Bomze 

This project revolves around the history of NY and the many changes it has undergone. New York is one of the most interesting cities on the planet Earth. Each year it is revisited by millions of people from all the other countries. A major theme that ran through this projects is how New York changed and how is changing nowadays. Changing is a fundamental dynamic of the universe it governs all laws of physics. 

--John Twomey, participant of the program.

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The handout of our program and the art statement created by John Twomey. 

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This is the documentation of our culminating event at Hamilton Center. We had the fortune to have so many people who contributed and shared their work and talent. We listened to jazz records as well as their own vinyl record Sights and Sounds, featuring the voices and stories of four pàrticipants of SU-CASA program. 

THANK YOU TO HAMILTON CENTER FOR ALL THEIR AMAZING HELP.

Photos by Tuomo Tiisala.

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Stay tuned for the art opening at Hamilton Center on June 30th. Senior participants will share their work developed during SU-CASA residency and the release of their vinyl record. The event is free and open to the public. 

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WE ARE RECORDING OUR VINYL RECORD

Today we recorded the voices that will play on our vinyl record. Our core participants shared memorable memories in NYC, sounds, and locations that are impregnated with many personal stories. Also, we took photos for our album cover and brainstormed about titles, and soundscapes to fill out the Side B of our record.  Intrigued?... Stay tuned for out next week adventures!

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EVERY SUNDAY WE PRESENT OUR ART OF LIVING 

Every Sunday, participants of the program share their life professions and personal narratives. Last week, two amazing senior artists shared their artwork with everyone in the lunch room, explaining their artistic techniques, intentions, professions, and source of inspiration. This week was the life of Herman Bomze and the music talent of Kiichiro Iwaki, violin playing with his tango trio. 

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HOW A TABLE CAN CREATE TEAMWORK AND FRIENDSHIPS. 

This was a special project, we re-build a table in the Hamilton Center Garden, using recyclable materials such as wooden letf overs to develop and construct from scratch its base. This really represented a teamwork for Dolores, Al, and myself. It required very detailed measurements and to think about the ideal construction from what we have available: five wooden boxes of wine. It was a great way to share trust and the knowledge of carpentry, design, and art. I was really impressed by Al detailed way of arranging the objects, as well as the love and devotion of Dolores with the garden at Hamilton. All of us were a stubborn team, willing to spend time and testing until the end the different possibilities that five wine boxes could give. 

I’m really impressed by their structural thinking. This project blurred the lines between a student and a teacher, becoming a teamwork where everyone expertise was important, and a friendship emerged from the wood and bolts used in each inch. We were so happy about the sturdy base and the amazing results of out conceptual thinking, applied into a very practical project, the garden for everyone enjoyment at the center. 

We would like to thank LMCC for their economic support as well as the hamilton staff to believe in us and provide with the tools, bolts, and nuts. 

This table was made by Dolores Ranghelli, Al Kurchin, and Amanda Gutierrez. 

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Maps and personal narratives can lead us to the memory of our first home. What we have in our past, reflects our present. Seniors made a postcard in which they traced their previous dwellings, to concrete it with a pop-out postcard of home. 

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Las week, we start integrating a new medium to stimulate the memory, which is the rehabilitation of the Center’s garden. Mainly two amazing seniors and I are taking the lead to repair a table and potter plants. This is a very personal approach to gardening as a medium to share and develop our personal narratives. 

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Seniors developed a map of three memories and observations of Manhattan, writing their personal connection with their space and personal memories. 

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Our first walk around the block where we look up into the buildings in its architectonical features. We talked about the history behind the buildings and the relationship with the local neighborhood. 

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Here is the documentation of our art workshop, where seniors made family postcards based on NYC photo archives. Participants found places and memories related to their own families, making a connection between the past and the present. Postcards were mostly made for their sons, daughters, and grandchildren. 

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Hello!

Welcome to the blog created for SU-CASA residency at Hamilton Center. We will share good moments, reflections and artwork created with participants in this workshop at Hamilton Center. Our mission is to have a collective and a visual record of our process, through the art of sharing the amazing memories of the city from our seniors’ perspective.  

This residency aims to reflect about the spatial memory and recording of the sonic cityscape in Upper West Manhattan. Through soundwalks, cartography drawings, and interviews with seniors, the project centers on the observation and collection of their experiences. 

We will post more documents and artwork soon!

Amanda Gutierrez is a participant in SU-CASA. SU-CASA is a collaboration among the New York City Council, the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Department for the Aging and the City's five local arts councils. This program is administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and supported by public funds from the New York City Council in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Department for the Aging. LMCC.net.

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