Thursday, November 26, 2009

Acoustics In Art

There are many ways in which acoustics are used in everyday life - from acoustic cleaners that help many industries maintain material flow through to the world of music and beyond. I am always keen to read news stories relating to acoustics so I thought I would share with you two that I encountered recently.

The first is an interesting product called Acoustic Art Panels. The makers claim they have a unique facing which makes them suited to a 'limitless range of applications'. They cite private homes, conference rooms, boats, bars and restaurants as examples. I have not seen any of these panels in person nor do I know anyone (yet) who has purchased and used them so I am sitting on the fence as to whether these panels carry any real 'acoustic' value but they certainly sound interesting.

The second is a documentary film entitled 'Visual Acoustics' which celebrates the life of Julius Shulam who died this summer aged 98. Shulam is viewed by many as the world's greatest ever architectural photographer who was able to capture virtually every modern architect's work since the 1930s including Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Gehry. I have yet to see the film but the review I chanced upon along with a youtube video of the trailer has whet my appetite and I will be on the lookout for the first opportunity to see it.

It never ceases to amaze me how much we like to use the word acoustic - it must count for something special!