Out There Atlanta’s Summer Sound Series: Ruth Laxson’s Musical Instruments

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Ruth Laxson standing outside one of her backyard studios, photo by Lilly Lampe.
Ruth Laxson standing outside one of her backyard studios, photo by Lilly Lampe.

This summer, Out There Atlanta presents Summer Sound Series, a collection of interviews with artists who find inspiration in sound or directly use it in their works.

Episode 71:  Ruth Laxson is a printmaker, bookmaker, performance artist…essentially, a woman capable of many things. At 88 years young, Laxson recently had a major retrospective at MOCA GA titled Hip Young Owl. The exhibition featured several of her artist’s books, mail art, etchings, sculptures, and drawings. Laxson also has a keen interest in sound and graciously offered to perform with some of her instruments for this podcast.

Topics include: Her performance history, why she stopped making handmade paper, and the aftermath of a retrospective.
Instruments include: A winding bird, Pakistani bells tree, drum, tambourine, wooden box, and a roasting pan.

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Audio: Click the player above to listen to Lampe’s conversation with artist Ruth Laxson, or download the MP3.

A selection of Laxson's instrument collection, photo by Lilly Lampe.
A selection of Laxson’s instrument collection, photo by Lilly Lampe.

 

Laxson holds the winding bird instrument, photo by Lilly Lampe.
Laxson holds the winding bird instrument, photo by Lilly Lampe.

 

Ruth Laxson holds the roasting pan, photo by Lilly Lampe.
Ruth Laxson holds the roasting pan, photo by Lilly Lampe.

 

Laxson plays the roasting pan, photo by Lilly Lampe.
Laxson performs with the roasting pan, photo by Lilly Lampe.

 

Laxson on the patio in front of her studios, all built by Bob Laxson, photo by Lilly Lampe.
Laxson on the patio in front of her studios, all built by Bob Laxson, photo by Lilly Lampe.

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BURNAWAY Radio sponsors Out There Atlanta, by Lilly LampeOut There Atlanta is a podcast and online platform for interviews with artists. The intention to create a archive of conversational interviews with artists in Atlanta, or with an Atlanta connection. These conversations are informal and conducted in the spirit of a coffee meet-up. Out There Atlanta fills the gap between formal studio visits and event-related coverage and exists as a place for a more relaxed and personal dialogue, allowing artists to get a little more “out there” with the online audience.

To subscribe to Out There Atlanta, open Itunes, go to Advanced, click “subscribe to podcast,” and insert the link for our feed: http://feeds.feedblitz.com/OTA

Music for Out There Atlanta is provided by M.S.I.F.

BURNAWAY Radio is supported in part by Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. Georgia Council for the Arts also receives support from its partner agency, the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

 


 

 

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