Concerted/Rest
Concerted/ Rest, a live performance/installation in two LA parks, MacArthur and Tongva, mixed Angel City Arts’ ambition of making multi-disciplinary works with outreach to an often overlooked and under-served Los Angeles audience. The idea – ‘to take the beautiful music and interaction that happens inside rooms at the festival each year and bring it to people seeking refuge in public spaces. ‘, says lead artist/ composer, Jacqueline (Jae) Kim.
As of the 2023 homeless count, the amount of people living on the streets of Los Angeles has increased an alarming 10% from the previous year. While the ‘housing first’ model prevails as the most effective strategy, tens of thousands of people are living in public, waiting for this reality to take place; it is the predominant choice over residing in a shelter for many. Kim continues, ‘Musical offerings are made outdoors regularly throughout the city, but rarely for this specific population. We use the term ‘sanctuary city’; this model proposes upholding sanctuary space.’
After each Concerted performance, sculptures lit from within remained at each site for the project’s second part, Rest, a responsive installation. Recordings of the live performances were edited into sequences and when visitors approached the sculptures, sensors re-activated recordings of the music, creating a temporary oasis. The documentary short played at the 2024 festival.
Kim and multi-reedist Douglas Wieselman composed a series of pieces based on time spent at a given site. Like great jazz, they rode the edges of noise and sound (natural and industrial) and age-old effects of frequency to create healing containers within these public settings.
Listen to the album, Concerted/ Rest : here
Read an interview with Jae Kim about Concerted/Rest here
Jae Kim on keys | Douglas Wieselman on clarinet(s) and electric guitar/bass | Leah Bowden on percussion & marimba | Kozue Matsumoto on koto
