Hello.

My name is Jon Bellona. I am a sound artist and educator who specializes in digital technologies. I employ sonification methods, data mapping techniques, audio technologies and even instrument building to create sound art works, music, and digital interfaces. I am part of the art collective, Harmonic Laboratory. I am currently Co-PI on a National Science Foundation grant sonifying ocean data called Accessible Oceans.

Listen on Spotify or BandCamp; watch on Vimeo or YouTube. Feel free to drop me a line.

FEATURED WORKS

WILDFIRE

Sixteen channel audio, wood, acrylic (2019)

Wildfire is a 48-foot long speaker array that plays back a wave of fire sounds across its 48-foot span at speeds of actual wildfires. The sound art installation strives to have viewers embody the devastating spread of wildfires through an auditory experience.

The work was installed at the Edith Langley Barrett Art Gallery in Utica, New York. The work ran Sept. 19 – Dec. 8, 2019 as part of a solo art exhibition entitled, “Impact! works by Jon Bellona.” Wildfire was part of SPRING/BREAK Art Show in NYC March 3 – 9, 2020 curated by Megan C. Austin and Ashlie Flood.

Wildfire was made possible through the University of Oregon Center for Environmental Futures and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The Impact! exhibition was supported by funds from the Oregon Arts Commission. Additional support made possible from the Edith Langley Barrett Art Gallery.

Public Final Report for University of Oregon Center for Environmental Futures.

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Wildfire sound art installation. 16 speakers along a white wall, playing back sounds of fire at speeds of wildfires
http://janelleshootsphotos.com
Close up of wood speaker panel on wall of the sound artwork, Wildfire
http://janelleshootsphotos.com
Close of custom electronics as part of sound artwork, Wildfire
http://janelleshootsphotos.com

Photo Credit: Janelle Rodriguez

I mixed-down the forty-eight foot, 16-channel work into stereo (2-channel). An embedded Spotify player is below, but the stereo version may be found on Apple, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you stream music.

AWASH

120 speakers, custom electronic circuits, 500’ speaker cable, DC motor, roller chain, dacron string, acrylic, wood (2019)

Awash depicts the life, color, and environment of the High Desert. The kinetic sound sculpture emanates audio from the region, while flowing as a singular mechanical wave overhead. Awash, like the High Desert, is shaped by many forces interacting in complex ways; the work is ecological – physical movement interacts with sonic vibrations. Sounds interact with the physical environment. Visual elements intermingle with acoustic elements.

The High Desert Museum commissioned Harmonic Laboratory for the work as part of its Desert Reflections 2019 exhibit. The exhibit went on to win the 2019 Charles Redd Center for Western Studies Award for Exhibition Excellence. Press release for the award.

Jon Bellona, electronics, software, field recording, Skinner church organ recording, sound editing, visual design, engineering
John Park, kinetics, visual design, engineering, schematics
Jeremy Schropp, field recording, visual design, engineering
Kevin Davis, Skinner church organ recording

DISTANCE-X

Distance-X (2017-18)

Distance-X is a digital musical instrument that consists of a hacked Gametrak, Nintendo Wiimote, and customized Kyma software. Music on Distance-X is all human-powered computer music. No tapes. No spacebar playback. Just body movements turned musical mutants.