“Listening to something is an act of surrender”
Brian Eno

The film featured above is by Rick Goldsmith (from Catcher Media) who is better known as a participatory film-maker but Listening #1 video installation showcases a different side of his film-making practice. Rick was commissioned by A Kind of Hush, to create a celebration of listening. His video response, which has no audio, still involves a participatory element as it invites friends, family and neighbours to explore the act of listening. Whether the person filmed is listening to a favourite piece of opera, pop, the news or rock, listening is presented as an intensely individual and nuanced human activity. Rick would like to invite the viewer to take some time to simply watch human faces, listening.

A Kind of Hush was a programme of playful and communal listening experiences to encourage conversation, relaxation and play in order to increase well-being and participation in arts activities. Local community and targeted groups were actively involved with internationally-renowned artists who provided workshops and interactive exhibition pieces alongside established and emerging Herefordshire-based artists.

Photo Block 1: (From top left clockwise) Rick’s Listening #1 film; students enjoy interacting with Bear’s sound sculptures;
DJ Jay takes time out with his daughter to play Bear’s bell-ringing game; Julia’s den sculpture in its full glory.

Photo Block 2: Members of the public enjoy the bell-ringing game; facilitated discussion in the den;
active listening/oral history workshop with Rick; Bear conducting R&D with bell-ringers in Burghill.

Photo Block 3: Liz’s gong bath session (with rugs courtesy of Richard Hastings); family members enjoy Julia’s den;
Jay at the decks for his vinyl-only ongaku/listening session; a member of the public works on an interactive sound sculpture.