CHICAGO, IL.- Densely textured sound and an evolving mix of projected imagery are manipulated in live performances at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), Chicago. Chicago experimental musicians Haptic and video artist Lisa Slodki explore the symbiotic relationship between sounds and images in an installation and series of live performances as part of the monthly UBS 12 x 12 New Artist/New Work series. The exhibition opens during First Fridays and runs through November 29, 2009.

Using found footage, VCRs, video monitors, and a projector, Slodki generates and projects digitally altered and manipulated images. Slodki’s choice of images is a response to Haptic’s improvisational audio compositions generated by amplifying the sounds of Slodki’s video equipment. Haptic manipulates, augments, and replays their audio while Slodki then responds to their performance by producing new images for a continuously evolving and unique live performance. Their live performances are free as part of Free Tuesdays and take place in the month of November, on November 10, 17, and 24, at 7 pm. The artists lead a gallery talk on November 10 at 6 pm prior to their performance.

In addition to the live performances, Haptic and Slodki create a concentrated representation of their live performances in an installation in the 12 x 12 gallery. Two VCRs play Slodki’s looped images from the performances on three small video monitors while several of Haptic’s small microphones capture, amplify, and transmit mechanical sounds from the video equipment in the 12 x 12 gallery.

Slodki began performing live video mixing in 2002 with the electronic group, a very-sensitive-device. Haptic was formed in Chicago in 2005 by musician Steven Hess; artist, writer, and musician Joseph Clayton Mills; and composer Adam Sonderberg. Initially conceived as a vehicle for live collaboration, Haptic frequently collaborates with a different, rotating fourth member to send the music in unpredictable and challenging directions.

November’s First Fridays theme is “Reflection” and guests may participate in an art scavenger hunt and dance to tunes by DJs The Blackholes and November 12 x 12 artists Haptic. November 12 x 12 artist Lisa Slodki projects found images on the MCA walls throughout the evening. Special guest sponsor Streeter Place invites First Fridays guests to help create a giant art wall of their artistic vision, titled “What Inspires You Today?” using mini-canvases and art materials supplied by Prismacolor. The canvases will later be displayed as a large work of community art at Streeter Place (355 E Ohio St).