New Adventures in Sound Art (NAISA) is launching the 27th edition of the Sound Travels Festival of Sound Art with summer-long events that feature interactive exhibitions as well as a special World Listening Day weekend-long event July 18 to 20.
“The complexity of the natural world is astounding in its diversity and musical nuance,” says Darren Copeland, Artistic Director, New Adventures in Sound Art. “South River is located in a region where the natural world has had many impacts on art making. Sound Travels 2025 uses NAISA’s theme for the year —There is Art in Our Nature — this time to provide audiences with the opportunity to hear what is below the water’s surface, to listen in to the sounds that exist in the rivers and lakes, which in the Almaguin Highlands have historically served as passage ways between communities.”
NAISA’s summer exhibition between June 12th and September 15th features the vibro-tactile sound installation Haptic Voices by David Bobier and Jim Ruxton of the VibraFusionLab. Haptic Voices is a wall sculpture that visitors lean back against in order to experience sound vibrations perceived through the body.
Since the installation transmits sound through the body, the listening experience is equally accessible to Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing persons. The content of the sound is made from compositions created by Bobier, Ruxton and others created especially for the vibro-tactile installation.
DAVID BOBIER
JIM RUXTON
Starting July 18th, the permanent installation Voice of the Water by Eric Powell will be added to the regular offerings in the NAISA gallery. Voice of the Water is an interactive rotary telephone-based listening station.
Using sounds collected from lakes and rivers around South River, this piece allows listeners to connect with the local waterways. Powell’s goal is to create a venue for contemplation, catharsis, and a deeper engagement with the surrounding environment. The water sounds are currently being recorded by local South River residents. Contact NAISA if you would like to participate.
World Listening Day Weekend
From July 18 to 20, enjoy a weekend sound escape to celebrate World Listening Day – an annual summer event that highlights the importance of listening. The weekend activities will take place at NAISA in South River and at Warbler’s Roost on Deer Lake.
On Friday July 18th at 7 pm, Burk’s Falls vocalist Corinne Alice, In Wonderland will perform Echoes Between Us, an immersive and participatory experience combining Deep Listening, SOUNDwalking and a solo musical performance. On Saturday July 19 there will be a morning SOUNDwalk and an afternoon underwater sound recording workshop led by Eric Powell and a 7 pm concert of one of Annea Lockwood’s classic river sound map pieces. The weekend will conclude over at NAISA on Sunday July 20 at 1 pm with an artist talk by Eric Powell introducing his new installation.
Online Listening
NAISA is always producing ongoing listening adventures. Tune your internet streamer to NAISA Radio for radio art and sound art 24/7. Dive deep into the why’s and how’s of sound art through the monthly Making Waves radio show. And lastly, expand your listening horizons with NAISA’s many sound art albums on Soundcloud and its videos of past shows on YouTube.
New Adventures in Sound Art is a non-profit media art organization in South River Ontario that is funded in part by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the Department of Canadian Heritage.
What: Sound Travels Festival of Sound Art https://naisa.ca/festivals/sound-travels/
Where: NAISA North Media Arts Centre, 313 Highway 124, South River
When: June 12 to September 15, 2025
Costs: Exhibition and Talks are Pay by Donation. World Listening Day Weekend is $15 for Performances and $45 for Workshop or $225 for Weekend Pass with Accommodation.
Website: https://naisa.ca/festivals/sound-travels/
