Julianna Barwick & Ikue Mori

When RVNG accepted an invitation by White Columns director Matthew Higgs to display in the all-purpose Project Space, we envisioned a venue to host a FRKWYS collaboration. The non-profit gallery’s long-standing support for experimental music dates back to the Noise Fest, a nine day event curated by Thurston Moore in June of 1981 that featured many prominent downtown New York musicians.

Keeping the institution’s regard for NYC avant music in mind, we looked to Ikue Mori, a member of No Wave anti-stars DNA and pioneer of drum machine and software improvisation, and Julianna Barwick, an artist recognized for the ethereal loop-based vocal compositions of her 2009 Florine EP and 2011 The Magic Place LP, to forge the focal point on our opening night event.

For the installation, a particle-board cubicle was custom constructed and placed at the center of the Project Space. The cubicle wall separated Julianna and Ikue to their respective seated work stations, while web cams captured the musicians at work / play and became interactive projections manipulated by video artist Erik Mika, illuminating this exercise in simulated engagement.

Each of Julianna and Ikue’s improvised performances on October 29th, 2010, were cut live to vinyl via portable lathe. On the album’s June 14th release date, the set of four unique lathe cuts and an elaborate art book will be made available for offers on igetrvng.com. The book features creative direction by Will Work For Good and photographs from the two events by Aubrey Mayer and Jody Rogac.

Julianna and Ikue met a second time three weeks later at White Columns, November 16th, 2010. This time the two musicians collaborated without an audience, cubicle, web cams, or lathe, but with past experience and spirit in place, an exercise in actual engagement. The four pieces of FRKWYS Vol. 6 include two performances from the first collaboration and two performances from the latter collaboration.

Frkwys Vol. 6 is a shared release with The Sound of White Columns. The LP is available in limited edition, packaged in thick black jackets with a two-color adhesive wrap.50 subscriber copies come in leatherette jackets. The first pressing came with a 24-page black & white zine; the book features creative direction by Will Work For Good and photographs from the two events by Aubrey Mayer and Jody Rogac. >>> The zine is no longer available, but you can FLIP THRU THE BOOK IN PDF FORM <<<