As a sound artist / sonic improvisor / gong and bowl player, I play and curate events locally, nationally, and internationally. Highlighted below are details of select collaborations and sound art installations:
The Remotions (a multiPLAY collective)
The Remotions is an online improvisation collective that was initiated by artist and technologist John Campbell. The group seeks for new ways to improvise together across distance, inspired by both the pandemic, and our increasingly isolated lives. The Remotions use low latency audio, individual video streams, combined live in a 360 degree virtual environment, bringing everyone into one space to play “together.” The performers in The Remotions include: Helen Pridmore (vocals), WL Altman (found sound, electronic music, and performance art); Norm Adams (cello and electonics); Gao Yujie (live visuals); Rebecca Caines (sound art), John Campbell (digital art, video, found sound), Stacey Bliss (gong and percussion). Click to learn more.
10 Nights of Gong with Guest Artists, Regina, SK, Canada
June 17-26, 2021. During the 10 Nights of Gong research talks and gong baths, I worked and played with musicians and artists at the Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre as well as at the Art Gallery of Regina. The following musicians and artists collaborated with gong sounds: Rebecca Caines, Dami Egbeyemi, Helen Pridmore, Kathryn Ricketts, Sundance Robson, Tara Semple, and D. Andrew Stewart. These collaborations were in the spirit of the gong teachings and research – improvised with no rehearsal. Pictured below: myself with vocalist Helen Pridmore; Tara Semple (flute) and Dami Egbeyemi (crystal bowls) at the Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre’s outdoor courtyard, Regina.
Collaborative Field Testing & Sound Recording, Regina, SK, Canada
September 2020. Along with Dr. Rebecca Caines and John Campbell, sound recording wizard, we tested gong sound at an outdoor site near Wascana Lake, Regina, Canada at Joe Fafard’s sculpture: Le Jardin de L’espirit (Mind’s Garden) (1997). It was a windy day, but the H4N zoom recorders did pretty well.
Earth & Ether Trio
Musical Collaboration & Concerts with Dr. James Harley, Stacey Bliss, & Reza Yazdanpanah
The sounds are earthy and etheric, merging from Reza on Persian tar, setar, and daf, Jim on computer composition, bells, bowls, and whistles, and me with bowls, chimes, and gongs. In Nov/Dec 2019 at Silence in Guelph, the Earth & Ether Trio played together for the public. We met and started our collaborations at the IICSI (International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation) Summer Institute in Perce, Quebec in 2019.
Organized & Facilitated Gong Training in Punjab, India with Gong Master Don Conreaux
October 2019. In collaboration with Don Conreaux and with help of Lynne Murfin, MD, we hosted a group of international gong students in Punjab India. Don Conreaux is one of the master-teachers in my research, a sonic and performative ethnography. Playful with gongs, harmonics, and other instruments, the group had lots of opportunity to learn from Don and play indoors and outdoors under lovely blue skies.
Organized & Co-performed: Concert for Peace & Humanity In Toronto, Ontario, Canada
On Feb 9, 2019. At College Street United Church in Toronto, Canada, 140 people gathered to take in the vibration of gongs and the music of the tabla & hang, the oboe, and Don Conreaux’s shruti songs (songs and poems of revelation). The collaboration was an improvised Concert for Peace & Humanity with talented local musicians including Gurpreet Chana, Derrick Tu, Barb McIntosh, Laurie Giller, as well as performance artist, lo bil. Performers met together for 2 hours before the start of the concert to meet and then allow the sounds to unfold in ‘deep listening’ (Oliveros, 2015) style of collaboration.
Gong Residency in Shanghai, China
Sept 2018. While in Shanghai, China at Don Conreaux’s 10-Day Gong Training as an artist-researcher resident, I was invited to play the drum for zen dancers. The 10 days were improvised sessions to explore the sounds of gong with other instruments, like the drum, as well as performance.
Organized and Co-hosted Gong Master Don’s Conreaux’s First Canadian Training, Toronto, ON, Canada
Aug 31-Sept 2, 2018. In collaboration with Anni Keshishian, I organized and hosted Don’s first Gong Training in Canada in Toronto – exciting! New and seasoned gong students came from Vancouver, California, Illinois, New York, and the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) to learn the philosophy and practice of gong – The Art of Gong.
Have Gong Will Travel: Outdoor Sound Installations, Canada/USA
2018-2019. For a year, I travelled with a 22″ wind gong and performed on the Columbia Icefield in Alberta, along lakes in BC, on ViaRail train platforms in Ontario, and in the water/on the beach near Boston, USA.
Playing for a World Record in London, UK
Gonging with 194 International Gongers. At the end of August, I went to London for a massive event. 194 Gongers from around the world gathered for the Guinness World Record – the most gongs playing a synchronized composition. It was an immense experience to be with so many gongs and players in one room. I was the only Canadian in the room, and made friends with folks from South American countries, China, the US, and met ‘old’ gonging friends from Croatia – a small gonging world.
Gong Training, New York, NY, USA
Jan 2018, NYC. The Gong Training and learning from Gong Master Don Conreaux (a long-time gong and soundscape wizard) was a turning point for my sound art practice and academic research possibilities in sound studies and expanding what my notion of literacies entails. Thank you, Don!
Contact: blissresearch@icloud.com
Stacey Bliss 