Wind Ensemble

Opening May 24, 2024 at The Bentway

Heather Nicol’s latest work, Wind Ensemble, is an interactive sound and sculpture installation which will be on view at The Bentway’s under-Gardiner space as part of this year’s Softer Cities public exhibition. Sounds of chimes and windswept voices will swirl through and beyond a rugged mugwort-filled bioswale located beneath the Gardiner Expressway, sonically animating the wind. In more still moments, an imaginary audience will comment on the absence of wind, a rarity at The Bentway site. “There’s no wind,” they’ll say, or, “when does it start?” Overhead, six colourful windsocks will playfully offer a visual indication of the velocity and direction of the wind. 

The movement of the textiles coupled with the swelling and receding audioscore will encourage observations on the conditions of the unique public space, where oversized concrete infrastructure and bustling human activity intertwine with the natural world. 

  Referencing the shape of the wind socks, ground level whisper cones will invite visitors to enact their own influence on the environment and add their voices to the sonic collective. As they speak, sing, or hum into the cone, they will trigger a choral call and response across the public space. This performative interaction between people, place, and weather will soften the urban experience through cooperation, listening, sharing, and the appreciation of invisible forces. 

Come by The Bentway this summer and contribute your voice to the Wind Ensemble!