NEW YORK, NY.- JOHNHOUSHMAND Projects announces the upcoming opening of ‘Ed Potokar: SOUNDWALL,’ a remarkable new show melding sculpture, audio architecture and handcrafted musical instruments into a mindbending display of master craftsmanship and visionary artistry. The musical sculpture exhibition will be held at the JOHNHOUSHMAND Projects located at 31 Howard Street, 2nd Floor, in Soho, from January 10- February 3, 2013. The opening night reception Jan. 10, 2013 will feature musical performances with the exhibit’s pieces. Gallery hours for the exhibit are Monday-Saturday 10:00am-6:00pm.
Through his unusual creations, Potokar, a seasoned percussionist and acclaimed industrial designer, has invented an environment where primitive and modern sounds perform a delicate dance in the context of the unique shapes and designs that trigger them. Potokar has utilized his 20+ years of expertise in designing-and playing-unusual and intriguing instruments to create an adventurous sonic and visual landscape, where one may encounter a three neck stringed instrument, or an entire wall of embedded drums.
Potokar’s show echoes his diverse influences, from Mancini to Miro, Moog to Eames, Bowie to Hawkinson, and will appeal to an equally diverse set of sensibilities. Art collectors, musicians, architects and designers alike will all find something to savor. “I have always been interested in new and unusual sounds. Having musicians play unique instruments makes that happen,” comments Potokar. “In this time of complex technology there are simple things that have not been explored completely. This collection of instruments, sculpture and architectural elements are the latest result of that quest for things different in the audio/design world.”
This show is the first of many collaborations to come for Ed Potokar and John Houshmand, who have formed a new company, SOUNDWALL, dedicated to the design and manifestation of “sonic architecture.” The group is pioneering the concept of architecture entering the fourth dimension of time and vibration, architecture that should be seen as well as heard. Targeting commissioned works in public spaces, boutique lobbies, and experiential environments, SOUNDWALL brings intense design and sonic environments into a marriage for the 21st century.
The son of a Latin Jazz and Polka drummer, Edward Potokar started his art, design and musical career as a curious adolescent in Cleveland. He created homemade instruments as a teen and later mastered his skills at The Cleveland Institute of Art, where he earned a BFA. While there, he joined his first band and played a custom welded steel drum kit with hammers and grinders. Potokar then began inventing and fabricating unique musical instruments, affectionately known as the “boxes.” These analog synthesizers helped create a signature sound and serve as the foundation for the renowned punk/funk/art/metal/wave musical group, the Audio Artists. After moving to NYC, he founded MUSIC FOR TV, a successful downtown Manhattan music production house, and wrote the theme music for MTV’s “Unplugged.” He also toured with groups in North and South America and Europe, as well as playing locally. Potokar has created his own line of high-end ribbon microphones called Potofones, and has designed and built custom homes and designer furniture.
