Interactive, audio-reactive media installation

Jam Session is an interactive, audio-reactive media installation featuring a projection of text and two directional microphones, into which the viewers must create sounds in order to see the text. The installation explores the principles of listening, improvisation, and collaboration in Jazz and tap dance. It combines visual perception and interactivity to encourage the viewers to meditate on the act of listening in their daily life.

Jam Session invites the viewers to make sounds into the two microphones to trigger a message to display on the projection. One microphone is positioned at foot level to pick up stomping sounds, triggering a light-gray foreground projection to fade out and reveal the message “LISTEN TO” followed by a noun or pronoun. The second microphone is positioned at chest level to pick up clapping sounds which cause the words after “LISTEN TO…” to change. Like in Jazz, this work may be activated by either a sole participant or engender collaboration and flow of intuitive communication between more than one person through playful sound-making.