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Each Morning of the World #02
North American PhoNographic Mornings #16/20
Mud Lake Bog ~ Michigan ~ USA ~
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«  Mud Lake Bog Dawn Chorus »
Leslie Rollins
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I regularly attend the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi's Kee-Boon-Mein-Kaa ("I have quit picking huckleberries") Pow Wow on their land in Dowagiac Michigan. I am deeply moved by their drumming, singing, and dancing. I find their notion of inter-tribal participation particularly inspiring, where multiple cultures share their traditions in harmony.

Often, in my field recordings I struggle with what I feel like are intrusions from the human domain, spoiling an otherwise pristine natural environment. In my mind's ear I can imagine what these places must have sounded like before human development encroached on the edges. Mud Lake Bog is a reclaimed dump which was rehabilitated in the 1980s as a preserve. It is close to human settlements, roads, and flight paths. At first I was annoyed by the sounds of vehicles impinging on the sounds of nature. But then I remembered I drove there in my car and contributed to this sort of sound in the environment. I then thought of the inter-tribal dance procedure where different groups of drummers and singers take turns playing for the dancers. Often, there is a specific song requested but occasionally they open it up to "singer's choice" where the group chooses whatever song from their repertoire best fits the moment. Maybe humans aren't great singers in their contribution to environmental sounds, but they do contribute. I am surprised in this recording how at times there almost seems to be calls and responses between the wildlife and human generated sounds. I can hope for a harmony of sorts.

Migwéch


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Leslie Rollins
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I experience the pace of contemporary society as overwhelmingly fast. In response, I create sound and video seeking to slow things down for the observer, while offering a protected space for you to rest within, if only for a few moments. I believe there are transformative, healing qualities in closer interactions with seemingly mundane things.
With deep roots in The Great Lake State of Michigan, much of my work plumbs the depths of water itself. I believe water offers a potent tonic to much of the discomfiture experienced in our lives.

Working with video, synthesized sound, and field recordings, I combine elements from multiple sources to create works that tease out links between seemingly disparate worlds. Often these works simply celebrate an act of creation.

I hold BAs in Art and English from Andrews University. I have been an artist in residency In 2017 at Signal Culture in Owego New York and in 2015 at Sachaqa Centro De ARTE, San Roque Peru. My visual works, and live electronic improvisational performances, have been featured across Peru, at The MuseumsQuartier in Vienna, and throughout the Midwest of America.


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