Artists and Musicians (and everyone else!): Come be a part of "Public Address"

Image from First Night Austin

As part of this year's First Night Austin, the Austin School of Film is calling on artists and musicians to take a special part in "Public Address," a sound installation by Barna Kantor.

Here's what's going on: the Austin School of Film (with help from Nomad Sound) will place two PA systems facing one another on opposite banks of Lake Austin. The PAs will be 800 feet away from one another, with one near the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue and the other on the north side of the 1st Street bridge. Each and every one of you are encouraged to come up to the mic and yell, cajole, insult, or profess love to the people on the opposite side, or anyone else. In the Austin School of Film's words, "The audience is in control of this show. They can complement each other's performances as in an a cappella, compete against the other side as in a rap battle or just listen to the sound of their voice echoing back." The installation will take place in two shifts: from 3 to 6pm, and then from 8 to 11pm.

Now, for you uninhibited artist and musician types - the School of Film is looking to you to get the exhibition rolling. They're asking for five to ten minutes of your performance, during which you can "sing, rap, beat box, shout or simply experiment with your voice" into the microphone. Knowing that a person can't spit in this town without hitting an improv group, slam poet or musician, we have no doubt that you all will be scrambling to contact the Austin School of Film's representative Jennifer Brandon to enlist.

First Night Austin: [website]
Barna Kantor: [website]
Austin School of Film: [website]