Location: James Turrell Skyspace, Pomona College, Claremont CA
Description of Space: A public art installation at Pomona College, in the Draper Courtyard. It is centered around a rectangular steel canopy with a square aperture that frames the sky. Below the opening at the top, a shallow black infinity pool reflects the daytime and nighttime light. It has a unique layout, with strategically placed benches, where visitors can sit and observe the changing colors of the canopy, illuminated by an LED system. The colors slowly shift, during sunrise and sunset. The space creates awareness of light, space, and perception.
Recording Setup:
The recorder (Azden SGM-PDII Camera Shotgun Mic) and balloon were held 3 feet above the ground/infinity pool, and approximately 3 feet apart from each other.
Reverberation Time:
- Maximum Intensity: 90.47 dB
- Minimum Intensity: 58.15 dB
- 30 dB decay: 0.91 seconds
- Decay to background level: 0.96 seconds
Acoustic Description:
The complex layout of Skypace creates an interesting environment for the sound waves to bounce off of. There is a constant background noise of water flowing due to the infinity pool at the center of the installation. The balloon popped a few feet above it in order to get the full effect of the open top, enclosed corners, and open sides of the canopy. The sound waves reverberated off of the water, the pillar like walls, and the roof, also while having open space on the top and sides where the sound can escape. This allows for the decay with a soft echo which is partially masked by the sounds of the water.
Graph:
