Currently installed in the Crowell and West Galleries in the Feigenbaum Center for the Visual Arts is the Chorus for the Untrained Operator, an experimental sound installation by artists Peter Bussigel and Stephan Moore. This installation is by far my favorite exhibition held in the Crowell and West Galleries and I have seen quite a few as I am currently a Senior.

This exhibition is interactive, interesting and… purely fun. The installation is comprised of an odd collection of household objects, knickknacks and appliances that have been repurposed. These objects are connected to an old antique switchboard by a sprawling web of bright yellow cords. They are strewn throughout the gallery, with some hanging from the ceiling and others on pedestals or attached to the walls. It’s curious and playful and I really love it. The Chorus for the Untrained Operator incites a childish inquisitivity as you explore this constructed environment with new sounds and experiences around every corner. Even after visiting several times, there are always more sounds and lights to discover. On my first visit, I didn’t quite realize that the buttons on the switch board also did things. This sense of discovery, of looking at old things and finding something new and exciting that you didn’t know were there before, is rewarding. The experience of walking into the gallery — curious and uncertain what this quiet, strange eclectic collection of objects purpose was — and then quickly being met and confronted by my sense of joy and discovery everytime I patched a signal into the board was surreal. My spirit of inquiry was being rewarded with various noises and lights, my questions immediately answered with every connection made

As the environment changed and came to life around me, the gallery was transformed from a surreal antique shop to a lively amusement park. In this interaction between technology and human, I was the conductor to an orchestra of sewing machines, fans, a foot bath and a small brass bell. Momentarily, I returned to a childlike state of learning from experimentation and trial and error. It was an enjoyable respite from adulthood. I wholly recommend you go experience it for yourself or with a friend. Even if you don’t like art that much, this installation is accessible and enjoyable for anyone.