Common Sounding
Central to much of my work, and to this project is a question: How can art and design be used to illuminate issues of place and community identity? This talk reviews a number of site-specific projects and focuses on Common Sounding, a current installation at the literal crossroads of university students, Amherst residents, and visitors to the town. Whether on foot, on a bicycle, or in a car, hundreds pass this location on a daily basis, but few partake in the green space of the park and fewer still use the park as an opportunity to connect with one another. Common Sounding creates both a sonic and physical space for interaction. It serves as a catalyst for engagement with the landscape and one another.
Common Sounding is currently exhibited as part of XTCA Cross Town Contemporary Art, Amherst, MA
Erika Zekos is a Lecturer and addition to teaching design studios, she is the Undergraduate Program Director for the department of Architecture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Erika has a Bachelor of Building Science and Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and comes to the department with experience in private practice, non-profit leadership, and design education in K-12 environments, as well as in numerous college/universities. Her practice explores a variety of themes, including the relationship between design and placemaking, as well as strategies for meaningful community engagement; using the creative process to give a voice to communities impacted by design through site-specific installations and hands-on projects