Cadillac Beach is a musical installation that investigates how cars occupy space physically and sonically. The work consists of three Cadillac Escalades parked along a public street. Audio recordings of whale-song are slowed down to approximate the bass of urban dance music. These field recordings play back through custom built sound systems designed for maximum bass response.

The piece uses sound to recast cars in parking space as sonic objects rather than empty but occupied space. Composing music with whale sound for Escalades is a way to playfully conflate how the automobile occupies physical space and and the impact it has on the natural and urban environment.

The piece was installed at Machine Project in Echo Park, Los Angeles on March 31st and then driven to a quiet beach north of Santa Monica and installed on April 1st.

An installation view.

Materials:
Escalades, Custom sound systems, Field recordings of whales modified for optimal bass response.

photography by Jeff Barnett-Winsby

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