Webspinna Artist’s Statement

The Webspinna project was one of the most interesting and challenging assignments the class has ever had. I knew it would be particularly difficult for me because I didn’t know much about sound as in where to find different sources and how to combine them all together. Much to my surprise once I started looking for sounds on the Internet, I came across a large variety of websites that offered very useful links. Once I found the sound clips I wanted, it was a completely different experience mixing them all together. I had to pay close attention as to when I would introduce a new sound clip and gently fade the other one out. It took a number of times practicing for my Webspinna presentation, and even though. I eventually got the hang of it, I was still nervous to perform. I wasn’t sure if my overall theme would be clear to the audience and if my project would be up to par with the rest of the class’s. My expectations as to how my Webspinna would turn out were pretty uncertain.

When the performance on Friday night began, it was so neat hearing what everyone else came up with. I feel that everyone really took the opportunity to explore all kinds of sounds and getting creative with putting them into one presentation. It was definitely unlike any other performance I had seen before since there were no visuals. As I was listening to the various Webspinnas, I began to picture in my mind images and stories that correlated with the mixtures of sounds. Everything I imagined was so unique in its own way as the sounds often jumped from fast to slow, loud to soft, etc. I’m not entirely sure as to what the themes were to each Webspinna, but I could tell that the whole class’s sounds were somehow connected.

The theme I chose for my Webspinna was selecting distinct sounds that related to the opening of a performance, process, or ceremony. I was trying to incorporate how everything has a beginning and how much more effective it is when the beginning is very epic. As I am just now entering the film program, it is my goal to start off as strong as possible. I know that by doing so I will leave a memorable legacy behind. My Webspinna is a lot like theatre and performing arts, as shows that open strongly are typically never forgotten. I also think it applies to the reading as I took different elements from different sources and combined them into one to share an overall message and express a certain theme.