John Sebastian Porter

After a brief phone call in 1998 with the legendary pioneer of musical synthesizers Bob Moog, I was vibrating with enthusiasm. I had purchased a Theremin, an instrument you can play without touching! This historical curiosity was my entry into the astounding and deceptively kitschy world of early electronic music.

At the time I was living as a “townie” in the tree lined neighborhoods of Ann Arbor Michigan. The 90’s were a time of enthusiastic optimism for technology. It was the dawn of the web for the general public, and the democratization of electronic music production. Artists like Björk were using curious off-the-shelf boxes to sample the sounds of the world around us, twisting our landscape into the new dance fueled pop hits. Anything seemed possible.

My optimistic young mind was turned to the union of natural sciences and technology. It was during a relaxed walk with friends in a field amongst the trees that I thought of the first concept for “Utopia”

Finally, for the Portland Winter Light Festival the project is coming to life

The “Utopia – Theremin Video Tree” uses projected light, sound, and theremin technology to explore the evolution of human relationships with nature. In collaboration with The Old Church Concert Hall, this project will feature a projected video tree that responds to human presence. The video and audio develops as participants approach the sculpture.

The glowing canopy of the tree develops from verdant leaves with breaking rays of sunlight, moving through industrialization and cityscapes toward the future when we begin to harmonize our own technologies with the natural sciences. Upon full contact with the tree glowing white light fringed with rainbow energy is indeed “A Light for Tomorrow”.

Accompanying Sound:
Diegetic (leaves blowing, busy streets, babies cooing, machines, heartbeat) with simple punctuating electronic tones that increase in harmonic complexity as the signal increases.

Follow us here as we document the project.

J. Sebastian Porter 12/13/2024