What is Soundpainting?
“Soundpainting is a pioneering live composition technique created by Walter Thompson, recognized as the universal live composing sign language for the performing and visual arts. This distinctive system utilizes a specific set of physical gestures to guide performers, whether in expansive, multidisciplinary ensembles, in more focused, single-discipline settings, and all points in between.
Soundpainting enables spontaneous, collaborative creation by allowing artists to respond in real time, resulting in dynamic and evolving performances. It promotes creativity, improvisation, and opens possibilities for dialogue between diverse artistic forms, while also being adaptable to individual or small group contexts.” Learn more at Soundpainting.org.
Live Compositions
Old Greeny Fringe Fest is a festival in Ithaca, NY, celebrating the lore of Old Greeny, the sea monster of Cayuga Lake. I live-composed a piece for Soundpainting Ithaca during this event quoting sightings of Old Greeny from historical records brought to life through music and dance.
The Soil Factory is a community space bringing together art, science, and sustainability through free community workshops and events. Soundpainting Ithaca is grateful to them for allowing us to use their space for rehearsal and inviting us to perform at their Spring Equinox event in 2025. I live-composed the piece above thinking about the transition from winter to spring as the ground thaws and old and new life alike emerge.
Performances
The piece above was live-composed by Drew Pattison in collaboration with Anna Von Mertens’ textile exhibit Shape/View at the Allen Memorial Art Museum in Oberlin, OH. I had the pleasure of playing guitar and performing spoken word poetry as part of this piece.
The piece above was live composed by Drew Pattison (musicians) and Nathan Trice (dancers, pt 1) as part of a two-night performance with Oberlin Dance Company.
Lessons