Topography of Sound: Peaks & Valleys Series, New Work by Maria Chavez

The University of Richmond Museums presents Topography of Sound: Peaks & Valleys Series, New Work by Maria Chavez, on view March 29 through May 11, 2018, in the Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art. In this exhibition, Brooklyn-based artist Maria Chavez (born Peru, 1980) examines microscopic, physical images of vinyl records and their striking similarities to the topography of mountainous and canyon regions throughout the world. A sound artist and abstract turntablist, Chavez trades her dexterity from physical hand manipulation during her performances to sketching with various densities of graphite, sumi ink, and watercolor. The exhibition features drawings and paintings exemplifying the similarities of microscopic images of vinyl to the traditional approach in landscape illustration from the 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Also presented is a sample of previously recorded performances and publications.

Chavez has been a research fellow of the Sound Practice Research Department, Goldsmith’s University in London, a composer fellow with Civitella Ranieri in Umbertide, Italy, and an artist fellow at the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation in Captiva, Florida. She has participated in various artist residencies including the CEC Artslink/ Back Apartment residency in St. Petersburg, Russia, Kunstmeile Krems sound artist residency Krems an der Donau, Austria; The Kitchen in New York and most recently as a guest artist in residence with the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Denmark, amongst many others. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at The Judd Foundation, Marfa, Texas; The Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York; HeK – haus der elektronischen Künste-Basel, INKONST Art Center, Malmö, Sweden, along with a solo exhibition with Co-Lab Projects @ Demo Gallery in Austin, Texas.

Organized by the University of Richmond Museums, the exhibition is curated by N. Elizabeth Schlatter, Deputy Director and Curator of Exhibitions, University Museums, in consultation with the artist. The exhibition and related programs are presented in cooperation with the University’s Departments of Music, Art, and Art History, Partners in the Arts, and the Modlin Center for the Arts. The project is made possible in part with support from the University’s Cultural Affairs Committee and with funds from the Louis S. Booth Arts Fund. The exhibition and programs are the inaugural event of Sound Arts Richmond, a city-wide exhibition in Richmond, Virginia, during March through August 2018 (https://soundartsrichmond.com/). Sound Arts Richmond is supported by a grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation.