Author: Nat Rad

100 Chawan: completed soundscape

| Nat Rad

The soundscape for the 100 Chawan exhibition is a compilation of 6 parts, representing elements identified by Linda Chambers and Collyn Gawned as significant to their art practice.

Being invited to create a soundscape and directed by Linda and Collyn‘s strong vision for the completed ceramic works to be underpinned by the ‘feel’ of the exhibition space, I began with recording in their studios.

  • Introduction: Chanting, Frogs, water and Night Chitty Chitty
  • Linda Making: electric potters wheel recorded in her home studio
  • Tea: preparing to make tea, chanting and whisking matcha
  • Travels in Japan: Hiroshima peace bell, poring tea and Osaka train station
  • Collyn Making: hand making a Chawan recorded in his home studio
  • Mediation on flow: Tapping on Chawan, waters of Lake St Clair, Torbay, Hopetoun and Ledge Point with breath

Hand building a chawan

| Nat Rad

Part 5 ‘Collyn Making’ – Collyn moves around his space with an enquiring mind. A work always in progress. The music he plays (reversed in my editing) the different wind chimes, the water dripping off his roof to be collected in a bucket, the patting and forming of a chawan. Linda whisks matcha (Green tea) at the end of our session. I looked for a flow in editing the sound into a form to end with the breath and relief at the end of creating.

Behind the Scenes: Ceramic artist Linda chambers

| Nat Rad

Part 2 ‘Linda Making’- recorded in Linda’s studio mainly working on the electric pottery wheel. The summer insects form a backdrop to the kneading of clay with rhythmic breath. Handling the clay before centering using her body with the mechanics of the wheel to form the clay into a circular vessel. Running her fingers around the rim and over the bisk fired chawan. 

Chanting and Tea: A Creative Sound Experience

| Nat Rad

Part 3 ‘Tea’ combines male and female chanting with the ritual of making tea, including the whisking of matcha. Recorded in the studio of ceramic artist Collyn Gawned, also his home, the process of making tea is a part of the creative process and underpins the esthetic.

The first edit I posted was reworked to consider the place it sits within the entire soundscape and the flow required within the exhibition space.

Exciting collaboration- Sound Work in progress!

| Nat Rad

Linda Chambers & Collyn Gawned: 100 Chawan 
10 April – 8 May 2025 | Vancouver Arts Centre 

100 Chawan (tea bowls) is a collaborative installation reflecting the studio based practices and common interests of Albany ceramic artists Linda Chambers and Collyn Gawned. 

With reference to historic and cultural use, the tea bowl became their inspiration for individual exploration into form, surface decoration and functionality. 

They have worked the elements of earth and water, firing in gas, electric and wood-fired kilns, to create unique and considered pieces for this exhibition, complimented by an original soundscape meditation compiled by Albany sound designer, Nat Rad.  

Dates: 10 April – 8 May 2025 
Days: Monday- Friday 
Time: 10am – 4pm 
Location: Vancouver Arts Centre, 85 Vancouver St, Albany

Voidscape 2.0

| Nat Rad

Translating from a video still, these works represent the complexity of layering sensations into one space. The images below begin with the still and documents the layering of paint to the final work

Voidscape 1.1 Oil & red gum resin on canvas 410 x 510 $850

Voidscape 1.1 Oil & red gum resin on canvas 410 x 510 $850

Suburban dreamscape

| Nat Rad
Winter Sun Nat Rad Vision and Audio

“Video of back fence in a cold morning as sun intensifies. Steam emanating from the fibre board fence.

Using filters to section the video into a dreamlike state until the final frame in golden glow. Sound is the water pouring between tea-cups, tapping on tea cup and glacial waters of Lake St Claire, Tasmania.”