For the exhibition Atmosphere for Enjoyment: Harry Bertoia’s Environment for Sound, the Museum of Arts and Design commissioned John Brien of Important Records (IMPREC) to create a four-channel algorithmic continuous loop from Harry Bertoia’s archive of Sonambient recordings. The exhibition also includes a 16mm film by Jeffrey and Miriam Eger, who worked with Harry Bertoia in 1971 to produce a kaleidoscopic vision of the artist both explaining and playing his Sonambient sculptures.  In addition, MAD invited New York–based musicians Lizzi Bougatsos and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe to record original compositions in the Sonambient barn in Pennsylvania and to perform with the Sonambient installation of Val Bertoia’s works at the Museum on July 8 and 15, respectively.

To mark the closing of the exhibition, MAD will host a special program highlighting the aforementioned artists. The event will include a presentation and Sonambient performance by Val Bertoia followed by a panel discussion moderated by George Grella, Music Editor at The Brooklyn Rail, with John Brien, Jeffery Eger, and Bougatsos and Lowe on the continued relevance of Bertoia’s Sonambient sculptures today. There will also be a screening of two of the Egers’ films.

This program is organized in conjunction with the exhibition Atmosphere for Enjoyment: Harry Bertoia's Environment for Sound.