ERNESTO ESTRELLA
For Those Arriving to New York
(An Immersive Soundwalk at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum)
New York, US
Date & Time: Saturday, October 23rd, 2021 // 11am-12pm
Location: Terrace at Liberty Park (by the WTC Sphere)
Supported by
Spain Arts & Culture / Consulate General of Spain in New York
Greece in USA / Greek Ministry of Culture
RSVP to ernestothecalm@gmail.com for QR code/Link to the soundwalk's track
For Those Arriving to New York is an immersive experience that recaptures the spirit of unity, strength, and compassion displayed among New Yorkers during the city’s darkest hour: the 9/11 attacks and their aftermath. In this piece, a site-specific audio composition (available via smartphone in both English and Spanish) will guide participants on a contemplative walk through the 9/11 outdoor Memorial and Museum. Storytelling and guided meditation are combined to immerse participants on a journey through the three core stages that helped New Yorkers come together to heal and build a stronger city that day and beyond: understanding, sharing, and belonging.
This public art piece has been conceived using the genre of the soundwalk and will only be accessible via smartphone and earbuds/headphones. The presentation of the piece occurs in the context of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Due to the nature of the site, it was extremely important to create a piece that would not interfere in any way with the physical space of the 9/11 Museum and Memorial. Accordingly, the sonic homage remains “invisible” until visitors decide to activate it and undertake the journey using their personal listening device. The journey will last around 35 minutes, focusing on four areas at the outdoor Memorial where the listener can create the connection between site and story. The areas are general zones, as opposed to specific points, which allows small groups to listen and walk together while respecting social distancing.
*The event will follow CDC Covid-19 Safety Guidelines
Voice & Composition: Ernesto Estrella
Copywriter: Ellie Barbrow
Sound Advisor: Kristina Siapkara
Mix & Master: Jeremy Loucas
Recorded at Sear Sound Studios, NYC
Ernesto Estrella is a poet, composer, and educator who currently directs the Nomadic School of the Senses (NoSoS), an organization devoted to creating innovative programs and public art interventions surrounding literary and historical commemorations. Estrella is the founder of the Voice Observatory, a Berlin Senate–funded laboratory focused on the voice and its acoustic, informative, performative, and sociopolitical dimensions. In 2020, he launched The Voice of Recovery, a podcast that intertwines storytelling, poetry, and meditations in an effort to help listeners through the challenges brought about by the current pandemic. With a doctorate from Columbia University, Estrella was a contemporary poetry professor at Yale University (2007–2011) and has been a visiting scholar at prestigious universities such as Amherst College, New York University, Hampshire College, Universidad de Alcalá, Humboldt University, and Potsdam University. He has also received awards and commissions from cultural institutions such as the Walden Woods Project, Concord Museum, MediaLab-Museo del Prado, Instituto Europeo di Design, Instituto Cervantes, and the Federico García Lorca Foundation. He is currently the vocalist and founding member of the New York–based Latin Jazz ensemble Trio Popular.