Dates and locations have now been announced for Olafur Eliasson’s large-scale installation “A symphony of disappearing sounds for the Great Salt Lake.” The exhibit will be presented at several sites in Salt Lake City’s Memory Grove from March 26 - April 4. I was among those commissioned last fall to contribute audio recordings to the project. It included some of the most interesting recording challenges of my career. I will write more about this work in the coming weeks, but I am continuously amazed by the lake’s alien landscape, its scale, and its fragility. I grew up around Salt Lake City, and the lake always played a big part in my understanding of the natural world. I assumed it would always be there, but it has shrunk to half its normal size. The diversion of water from the lake by agriculture, cities, and industry, is now threatening the lake with ecological collapse. This catastrophe can be prevented but we need to take action now. The lake can be saved if lawmakers and the public insist on protecting it. I hope this exhibit raises awareness about what is happening. If you know anything about Eliasson’s work, the installation promises to be beautiful and thought-provoking.
