Haunting in its simplistic glory, Camille Norment’s newest work “Untitled (red flame)” is a must-see.

The exhibition room is dark, save for a corner that’s faintly illuminated red. There is a trio of red megaphones in the center of the room whose hums make the floor faintly shake. At its base is a red light that gives the megaphones an eerie glow. All around are sounds of fire - crackling, snapping, the low hum of anticipation and fear, the dull roar of a burn. I can almost feel the heat of the flame on my skin. Standing there, I am suspended in a moment of both nothingness and action. This is “Untitled (red flame)” an immersive sound-based installation by Camille Norment.

A US-born sound artist currently based in Oslo, Norment’s work combines sonic and visual elements into an immersive and compelling installation. Here, Norment uses fire and speech to explore issues such as community, autonomy, remembering the past, and moving forward.

Norment uses fire and speech to explore issues such as community, autonomy, remembering the past, and moving forward.

At the Artist Tour on November 15, 2019, Norment talked about her inspirations in creating the work, which range from church bells in French towns to the feedback sound of a room. For example, Norment took inspiration from the town bell, which appears as a low hum in the installation, as a sign of unity, protest, and warning. Likewise, Norment, citing influential sound artists from the 60s, saw the continuing feedback loop in the exhibit as a reflection of moving backward in order to move forward, a moment of evolution amidst revolution. She also went into detail about the process of creating the installation, which uses sounds taken from locals in the South Side and were manipulated into creating fire-like sounds. A reflection of agency and autonomy, these voices appear as the fire-like sounds that envelope the exhibit.

…a reflection of moving backward in order to move forward, a moment of evolution amidst revolution.

“Untitled (red flame)” is available until January 5, 2020 in the Logan Center.

Images courtesy of Karina Holbrook

Looking to expand your horizons and venture out into the city this Spring? Check out one or more of the many exhibits, lectures and programming coming to the city’s acclaimed cultural and artistic institutions.

The Hyde Park Art Center focuses on engaging the community with its variety of program types. Its exhibition Health Club focuses on the ways civic spaces can interact with humans wellness. Two Hot Mess Yoga sessions will be hosted on February 27 and March 13. Additional, Super Sunday on March 31 contains a variety of activities that includes exhibition receptions.

The Chicago Cultural center has robust programming that focuses on current and past movements in Chicago and many of its exhibitions and programs ask for input from the community. For Chicago Theater Week, it asks visitors to stick flags of Chicago theater resources into a giant map on the wall. Its current exhibition is about black artists and their role in Chicago’s consumer culture.

The MCA’s latest exhibition will be opening soon. Big Camera/Little Camera explores how changes in scale play with a sense of triviality. It opened February 23rd and admission is free with a UCID.

Finally, the Art Institute provides a variety of Gallery Talks, where visitors will be guided for an hour through collections in a gallery. While some are general, like the Gallery Talk on Highlights of the Art Institute, others explore specific themes, like Light/Dark/Ugly/Beautiful, which discusses works of art that push the boundary between the tragic and the luminous.

Talks are free with museum admission. Personally, I’d attend the talk on Modern Wing Highlights to gain some perspective on Modernism and why Modern pieces are valued. On the 21st, there will also be a lecture called Art, Illusion, and Control in the Roman Villa presented by the Classical Art Society. Lea K. Cline, associate professor of art history at Illinois State University, will discuss a Roman villa from a slave’s perspective.

Feature image via.