Olivia Block C.V.

 


RECORDED COMPOSITIONS

2008

DVD (untitled) with video artists Sandra Leah Gibson and Luis Recoder, SOS Editions

2006

“Heave To" , Sedimental

2005

“Change Ringing”, Cut

2003

“Sunder/Unite” with Seth Nehil, Sedimental

“Powerful Friends and Devoted Lovers”, untitled TV POW remix, Boxmedia (compilation track)

“Intransitive Twenty Three”, Intransitive (compilation track)

2001

“Mobius Fuse”, Sedimental

“Club Metro, Kyoto”, with Seth Nehil and Busratch, Paradisc

“Oil and Water”/ “Pandora’s Box” with Petra Klusmeyer, split LP, Boxmedia

“Tu’MP3” untitled soundtrack piece for video, web series (compilation track)

“untitled” MSBR magazine compilation #6, Japan (compilation track)

1999

Alial Straa: “Tunnels/Stairwell”, Alluvial

“Women: Mixing in Sound” (improvisation with Fred Lonberg-Holm, Pauline Oliveros, Carol Genetti, Andrea Polli), Artemesia Gallery, Chicago, IL. (compilation track)

1998

“Pure Gaze” ,Sedimental


LIVE COMPOSITIONS, PERFORMANCE

2008

(forthcoming ) Venice, Italy. Venice Biennale. Premiere of scored composition for chamber ensemble and electronics commissioned and performed by Alter Ego Ensemble

(forthcoming) Montreal and Toronto, Canada "Suoni Per Il Popolo" festival. Curated by Joda Clement

Santander, Spain. "SDR Muestra de Arte Sonoro" festival. Solo composition, performance for prepared piano and electronics. Curated by Ilios

Los Angeles, CA. Calarts REDCAT - Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater, "CIEAT" Festival. Performance of a graphic score by Jason Kahn on prepared piano with Jason Kahn, Ulrich Krieger, Mark Trayle. Curated by Calarts Department of Music

Santa Fe, NM. "Santa Fe International Festival of Electroacoustic Music", College of Santa Fe. Solo performance for piano and electronics. Curated by Steven Miller and the CSF Music Department

Milwaukee, WI. "Alternating Currents" Festival at Woodland Pattern Books. Composition and performance with Carol Genetti for found objects, electronics, prepared sounds. Curated by Hal Rammel

2007

Chicago, IL. Collaborative performance with Seth Cluett, Don Malone, Adam Sonderberg. Elastic Arts. Curated by Triage

New Haven, CT "Allowed/Aloud" festival. Performance for piano and electronics. Firehouse 12. Curated by Seth Kim-Cohen

Chicago, IL. "Chicago Sound Map" festival. "Stop the sound of the Big Bell" for large ensemble, improvisers. Elastic Arts. Curated by Michael Hartman, Dudley Bayne, Boris Hauf

Rome, Italy. "Sguardi Sonori" festival. Solo performance for piano and electronics. Curated by Neil Leonard

Boston, MA. Premiere of "Rime and Glaze" for large ensemble. Berklee College of Music. Curated by Neil Leonard

San Francisco, CA. "Activating the Medium" festival. Exploratorium. Solo performance for electronics and video. Curated by 23Five

2006

London, England." London Music Collective's 15th annual Music Festival" . Solo performance for electronics and amplified objects.

Portland, Oregon. "FO(A)RM Media Festival". Portland Arts Center. Untitled composition for ensemble and electronics. Curated by Seth Nehil.

Oakland, CA. Mills College of Music. "Squall" performed by Mills Contemporary Music Ensemble,"Biome" performed by Mills Improvisation Ensemble. Untitled composition for wind quintet in three movements performed by Quinteto Latino, "Make The Land" solo electronics piece for four speakers performed by Olivia Block. Culmination of residency.

Chicago, IL., Elastic Arts "Olivia Block and Daniel Menche" . Untitled solo performance for prepared piano and electronics. Curated by Adam Sonderberg, Longbox Recordings.

Milwaukee, WI., Cactus Club. "Olivia Block and Daniel Menche". Untitled solo composition for autoharp and electronics. Curated by Jon Mueller, Crouton Records.

Leuven, Belgium. “Artefact Festival”. Video, sound presentation. Curators: Dave Dreisman, Pieter-Paul Mortier

Milwaukee, WI. “Living Room Series”. Performance for electronics and acoustic objects, video. Curator : Jon Mueller

Rome, Italy. “Dissonanze” festival. Spatialized live compositions for electronics, firecrackers. Curators: Edwin Van Der Heide, Giorgio Mortari

2005

Boston, MA. MIT Museum . NON Event/Berwick Institute sponsored solo performance with wind ensemble and collaborative performance with Seth Nehil, Jonathan Chen, Bhob Rainey

2004

Rotterdman, Netherlands.“ Women’s Xperiment>L festival (women in electronic music)” festival
Live composition for recorded material, cello, viola, bass clarinet. Curators: Mariette Groot, Daniela Swarovzky

Chicago, IL. 3030 club. “Heaving To” live composition for electronics, string, wind and brass ensemble

Austin, TX. Austin Museum of Digital Art (AMODA) sponsored event at the Jones Center “Art House” museum. Live composition for electronics and large wind and string ensemble with the Austin New Music Coop, Imbroglio String Quartet. Curator: Brent Farris/AMODA

2003

France/Switzerland Tour. Various live performance dates.

Denton, TX. University of North Texas. Live performance for recorded material and University of North Texas Faculty musicians. Accompaniment for dance faculty performance as part of visual artist, Wenda Gu’s opening, “Art from Middle Kingdom to Biological Millenium” in the University of North Texas Art Gallery.

Amsterdam, Netherlands. “Sonic Light” festival. Live composition for recorded material , live electronics

2002

Bologna, Italy. “Angelica” festival. Live composition for acoustic objects, recorded material/speaker installation. Curator: Massimo Simonini

Los Angeles, CA Beyond Music festival electroacoustic performance (with Achim Wollsheid) , Curator: Brandon Labelle

2001

Berlin, Germany, Vienna, Austria “X-Tract Chicago” festival. Solo performances.: Podewil Foundation. Presenter: Elke Moltrecht (cancelled due to 911)

Chicago, Illinois. “Outer Ear” festival. Live composition for recorded material, wind, brass ensemble. Curator: Lou Mallozzi/ESS Foundation,

2000

Japan Tour: Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto. “Field Studies” tour. Collaborative performance series with Seth Nehil . Presenter: Koji Tano (MSBR)

Albuquerque, New Mexico. “Electroacoustic Music by Olivia Block and FranciscoLopez.” Live composition for recorded material, small wind instruments. “Nonsequitur” composers series. Presenter: Steve Peters

Italy: Milan, Arrezzo, Biella, Catania, Reggio di Calabria, Rome. Solo performance tour. Composition for recorded material, trumpet. Presenters: Stefano Bianchi (“Blow-Up” Magazine), Giuseppe Iiellasi (“Fringes” label)

Geneva, Switzerland. Collaborative composition for recorded material, steel container, dried leaves, objects. Festival Archipel. Presenter: Marie Jenson

1999

Chicago, Illinois. “Independent Composers” festival. Odum club. Other presenters: Fred Lonberg-Holm, Helen Mirra. Live composition for recorded material, speaker installation, wind ensemble

1998

Chicago, Illinois. “Pure Gaze” CD release event. Composition for recorded material and wind quintet. Performance. Hot House club.

1997

Chicago, Illinois. “Eye of the Ear” festival. Performance. Composition for wind quartet, recorded material. Links Hall,. Presenters: Steve Barsotti, Todd Zweck

1996

Chicago, Illinois.“Women’s Avant Festival.”. Live composition for recorded material, wind quartet. Lounge Ax club

1995

Austin, Texas. “Candy Factory” festival. Performance in “Alial Straa’ group. Presenter: Ellen Fullman

Austin, Texas. Performances in “Alial Straa” group. Series of improvisation performances in underground drainage tunnels, resonant stairwells.

 

INSTALLATIONS/EXHIBITS

2008

Brooklyn, NY. "MATA Young Composers Now" Festival "Angry in Your Sleep" multiple speaker Installation. Presented by Diapason Gallery

2007

NYC, NY. Diapason Gallery. "Angry in Your Sleep" multiple speaker installation. Curated by Michael J. Schumacher

2006

Turin Italy, Winter Olympics. "Heave To" Multiple Speaker Installation. Curated by Charlie Morrow

Wesleyan University, Middletown Connecticut. “AREA” sound installation for small speakers. “Sounds Under the Lamp” exhibition. Curator: Jonathan Chen

2005

Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. “A Map of Transitory Monuments” , Composition/Speaker installation. The first sound artist chosen for the MCA 12X12 series. Curator: Tricia Van Eck

NOVA Young Arts show. “Open Systems” speaker installation. Curators: Michael Workman/Bridge Magazine, Lou Mallozzi/ESS

2004

Fern Room at the Chicago Nature Conservatory. “Transgenesis” . Four speaker installation for the Chicago Outer Ear Festival. Curator: Lou Malozzi

The Kitchen, NYC. Untitled multi-speaker composition created for Charlie Morrow’s “Sound Cube” for the “New Sound New York” festival

2002

Betty Rhymer Gallery, School of the Art Institute of Chicago. “Loam” sculptural sound installation, suspended cymbals, suspended glass containers, water, iron containers .Curator: Philip Von Zweck

Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.“Sunder, Unite” excerpt. Recorded collaborative work with Seth Nehil. Listening booth. Curator: Todd Carter

 

SELECTED PRESS

2008

Tokafi.com website "Impersonal Revelations." Interview and article by Tobias Fisher

2007

Tokafi.com website "15 Questions for Olivia Block." Interview by Tobias Fisher

2006

Blow Up Magazine, Italy. Interview by Stefano Bianchi

2003

Chicago Reader “Post No Bills.” Interview, article by Peter Margasak

Chicago Tribune Friday Arts Section. Interview by Nina Metz

2002

Perfectsoundforever.com. Interview by Andy Beta Sound Projecter, UK issue 10. Interview by Ed Pinsent

Chicago Public Television “Arts Across Illinois” concert appearance and interview

2001

Blow Up Magazine, Italy. Interview by Stefano Bianchi


RESIDENCIES, GRANTS, AWARDS

2006

Mills College of Music, Oakland, CA. Composer-in-residence, premiere performances of new compositions by student ensembles

2004

Harvest Works Residency for participation in the “New Sound New York” Festival

2001

Illinois Arts Council grant for participation in the ESS festival

Meet the Composer Grant for participation in the ESS “Outer Ear Festival”

 

LECTURES, MASTER CLASS INSTRUCTION

2007

Lecture presentation for Music Appreciation class. North Central College, Naperville, IL.

2006

Lecture/master class presentation for music composition classes taught by Chris Brown, Maggi Payne. Mills College of Music, Oakland California

Lecture/master class presentation for sound composition class taught by Lou Mallozzi. School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, Illinois.

Lecture/Video and sound presentation. “And Now” literary festival. Lake Forest University. Illinois

Lecture/Artist Walk, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.

2001

Lecture. “Natural Sites/Field Recordings in Electroacoustic composition.” Gene Siskell
Film Center, as part of the E.S.S. Outer Ear Festival.

2000

Master class visit. The School for the Art Institute of Chicago. Sound Composition class. Teacher: Lou Mallozzi

Master class visit. De Paul University. Composition class. Teacher: Jeff Kowalkowski