The Audio Foundation invites you to join us in marking the opening of A place to play a clarinet, an exhibition by J.A.Kennedy.

1A Tuarangi Road, a green box, a music box, a space to measure the sound of wind ——— 4 Poynton Terrace, down or up the stairs, steps to be thought of as a transitional site, a continually undefinable perspective.

The acousmatic sound of clarinets plays in the background of artist J.A.Kennedy’s installation ‘a place to play a clarinet.’ Transposed, an apparition of an appearance, the recording depicts the performance by Jeff Henderson and Sean Martin-Buss which took place on August 14, 2022 within the Governor Brick Pumphouse located at 1A Tuarangi Road, Grey Lynn, Tāmaki Makaurau. The musicians were invited by Kennedy to play for approximately 45 minutes (62:14 min/sec) and instructed to use two chairs as sculptural notation. The duo responded in five parts to the notes the other played, and now the question remains, “What trajectory will be taken?” Moving away from that moment, “what’s next?”

100 compact discs support the potential for Henderson and Martin-Buss’ performance to be revisited outside of the moment of conception. While listening to the compact disc, Kennedy invites further improvisational responses.

A place to play a clarinet
01 – JEFF_SEAN – APTPAC – 1A TUARANGI RD – 7 AUGUST 2022. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:44
02 – JEFF_SEAN – APTPAC – 1A TUARANGI RD – 7 AUGUST 2022. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:21
03 – JEFF_SEAN – APTPAC – 1A TUARANGI RD – 7 AUGUST 2022. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19:55
04 – JEFF_SEAN – APTPAC – 1A TUARANGI RD – 7 AUGUST 2022. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20:10
05 – JEFF_SEAN – APTPAC – 1A TUARANGI RD – 7 AUGUST 2022. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:04

Opens: Thursday 2 November, 5.30pm, with refreshments by Liberty Breweries and Decibel Wines
Hours: 12 – 4pm, Tuesday – Saturday
Closes: Saturday 2 December

At the opening of this exhibition, a performance for two clarinets by Sean Martin-Buss and Ben Sinclair will reprise the original concert.

Artist statement:
My practice can be described as an attempt to unpack the poetics of intricate ecologies that exist within various locations, recognizing the interconnectedness between human and non-human entities. Employing a methodology focused on empirical engagement and transposition, projects emphasise the potential for action within a site of inquiry. I use performance to camera, still/moving image, drawing, sculpture, publication, and installation as vehicles to investigate components implicated in the trajectories of a lived narrative.