Sound Garden: Installations by John Morton and Jacqueline Shatz At The Morris Museum

Composer John Morton has created interactive installations using sound in Central Park,  Governors Island and now the Morris Museum, where two of his pieces can be “played” through February 24. “Fever Songs” uses audio gathered from different religious traditions, and “The Voyage Out” is a collaboration with figurative artist Jacqueline Shatz. 

Producer Susan Wallner talks to both of the artists  about the latter work — a ship with three keys that initiate both movement and sound  – which was inspired by Charles Darwin’s journey of exploration aboard the HMS Beagle. Morton and Shatz also discuss the tradition of music boxes and automata, both of which can be seen in the Morris Museum’s world-renowned Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata.

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About the author: Susan Wallner is a principal of PCK Media, an independent production company. She is the co-series producer of the public television program 'State of the Arts,' a job that has introduced her to a wealth of talent and artistic diversity over the years. Susan's documentaries and performance specials have aired nationally. Most recently, her profile of the writer, aviator and celebrity, 'Anne Morrow Lindbergh: You’ll Have the Sky,' won the 2017 Mid-Atlantic Emmy for Best Feature Writing (it was Susan's 15th regional Emmy win). Narrated by Judith Light and Lily Rabe, it aired throughout the country on PBS and PBS World, and is available on DVD. Currently, Susan is working on a documentary about the self-taught city planner, builder, and artist, Kea Tawana.