Winter 2025 Newsletter
spring greens
Dear Friends,
This Fall, I am continuing work on a piece that I began last Summer, based on the subject of fire. This one has a slow burn, as the seasons change, a time when I often feel a slowing down of the creative process. I envision live singers combined with quadrophonic recorded sound, which is bringing challenges I am eager to chew on.
in this issue:
+DISPATCHES from the CHARCOAL FOREST
+New artist films from Thollem and Angela
+A space for rent on our lush land
DISPATCHES from the CHARCOAL FOREST:
An expanded song cycle for 6 voices and soundscape
This new, in-progress work is a 40-minute nonlinear sound art contemplation of fire, emergency, and aftermath. In it, I am working to integrate a quadraphonic soundtrack of recorded stories and found sound, as the baseline for a live performance during which six singers will surround and move among the audience.
The building blocks for this work include audio interviews collected from firefighters, clean-up crews and ecologists, as well as clips sourced from 911 dispatch calls and evangelical fire-and-brimstone preaching. I am continuing the composition and incorporation of vocal methods similar to those used in my EXPLORATIONS work featured at the Audium last year.
DISPATCHES FROM the CHARCOAL FOREST will be presented in the round with a quadraphonic sound system, with the audience in the center.
I am working with a sound engineer, a music director, a choreographer, and six professional singers who will learn the piece aurally. I am seeking funding and venues for Summer 2025 and beyond.
Listen to sound samples here: merlinman.com/dispatches
ARTISTS ENGAGED
My dear friends Angela and Thollem have been traveling the country and world for many years. Thollem is an incredible improvising pianist, and Angela a gifted videographer. Together, they have collected portraits of artists active in their communities and created two film installations of these portraits. I am honored to be featured speaking about my work at the Audium in the 2nd installment.
Please watch… donate if you are able, these folks are the real grassroots, and well worth your eyes/ears/and support.
Learn more: artistsengaged.com
CONTAINER FOR RENT
As a remainder of the farm we once housed here at the Cotati compound, there is a lovely converted shipping container I now wish to rent to an artist or other person in need of space. I am asking $325 per month.
It is fully wired and well insulated and finished, 8 X 20 feet with a faux wood floor. In a private setting and surrounded by garden foliage it is the perfect space for…you? Someone you know in Sonoma County? Please reach out if interested.
