GADGETS, GIZMOS, AND GAMES
Mechanical Art Meets Music in Massachusetts

By Beth Denisch, Boston Chapter Director

Though composers, as a species, are shy and rarely seen outside of their natural habitat, lucky visitors to the Art Complex Museum in Duxbury, Mass., caught a glimpse of composers-in-residence Michael McLaughlin as he peered out from beneath a hanging rock in the museum's gallery.

(Sounding Board, February 2002) On December 8, Michael McLaughlin's Community Partners residency with the Art Complex Museum in Duxbury, Mass., concluded with the premiere of his "Trackings" for flute, violin, viola, and cello. The Chameleon Arts Ensemble performed the work at the museum as part of a program that included Ellen Taaffe Zwilich's String Trio, Jan Swafford's "Labyrinths" for violin and cello, Malcolm Arnold's "Duo," op. 10 for flute and viola, and Krzysztof Penderecki's String Trio.

McLaughlin's residency, sponsored by the Boston Chapter, was part of the Museum's "Gadgets, Gizmos, and Games" exhibition. Curated by area-artist Craig Bloodgood, the highly interactive exhibit celebrated contraptions as art. Two dozen artists from 12 states and Canada contributed whirling, buzzing, and clicking mechanical art in an array of media that included ceramics, metal, wood, and found objects. From large-scale interactive sculptures to small hand-held crank theaters, the museum was abuzz with art.

McLaughlin kicked off his residency last spring, when he visited the museum to meet with Bloodgood and review slides and descriptions of the works. Over subsequent visits, he met with a number of the artists to discuss their ideas and inspirations and to play with their creations. Eventually, a theme emerged: the repetitive cycles created by all of the gizmos and gadgets. McLaughlin adopted this cyclical theme for "Trackings," basing the work on the image of four balls cycling through a track and triggering different musical sounds as they pass different points.

"Trackings" received an enthusiastic and virtuosic performance by the ensemble, and a standing ovation from the audience.

The Art Complex Museum serves as a center for regional arts and houses the collections of the Carl A. Weyerhaeuser family, known for its wealth of Shaker furniture, prints, American paintings, and Asian art. The Chameleon Arts Ensemble has distinguished itself as one of the finest and most versatile chamber ensembles in Boston, and was named the Best New Chamber Ensemble of 1998 by Richard Dyer of the Boston Globe.

Michael McLaughlin dedicated "Trackings" to Mrs. Edith Weyerhaeuser, a lifelong advocate for artists and artistic innovation.