 Box With The Sound Of Its Own Critique
(1996)
Oak box, speech electronics, microcontroller;
12x14x14"; 10lbs.;
Status:
collection of Barclay and Evergreen
A weathered oak box with a patinaed brass plaque on its lid engraved with the title of
the piece. Inside is  a computer, light sensor and solid-state speech
storage chip.
When opened, the box says "The last person who opened this box said," then
plays ten seconds of sound. It then says "What do you think? You have ten
seconds, starting now," and records a new sample over the sample taken last time.
It then shuts off and waits for the next person to open it.
This piece is an homage to the great conceptual artist Robert Morris. The
title refers to his piece piece "Box with the Sound of its own Making," circa
1965. It is a crude pine box with a tape recorder inside it, playing a loop of the
sounds of sawing and hammering recorded during its construction.
It's one of the pieces that taught me that you could think, question and make great art
at the same time.
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