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The Path of Peace - News Release
THE PATH OF PEACE
a sensual and elegant multimedia collaboration of music and fine art In the first DualDisc (CD/DVD) of an ambient art series, Visionsound presents The Path of Peace, to be released June 12, 2007. A technology-enabled artistic collaboration, the disc combines the contemplative piano music of Ben Dowling with original paintings and drawings by Mark Wagner. The Path of Peace runs counter to the fast pace of contemporary life at the same time it represents an important new phase in the evolution of integrated arts. The work itself features 53 minutes of both audio-only (CD) and surround-sound audio with wide-screen multimedia (DVD) - in slow, engaging and beautiful motion. If ever there was an environment needing quiet, unhurried loveliness, The Path of Peace fits the bill perfectly. Keyboard artist Ben Dowling, whose roots are in classical and jazz, has developed a unique, minimalist piano technique specifically for this work. A “singing” melodic touch and novel pedal work are joined with a spatial sense that crosses effortlessly between diatonic and modal harmony. “I needed to develop a different way of playing to take advantage of the 5.1 surround field—since surround-sound is allergic to too much motion,” explains Dowling. “For years I’ve tried to capture the open, suspended quality of the piano – like the experience of improvising in a dark concert hall. Finally, technology has made that possible. I can safely say that The Path of Peace is one of the finest recordings of piano I have ever heard.” Visual artist Mark Wagner is one of the few traditionalists awarded a National Endowment of the Arts grant for early experiments in computer-generated art. Using oil, chalk, pencil and even hot glue, Wagner synchronized his own creative vision with Dowling’s music in a slowly unfolding, multi-layer video-scoring style. “As I started placing my images to Ben’s music, I noticed that I began to slow down,” says Wagner. “There’s something very special about the way it unfolds. It’s a little bit like looking at an ocean for a few days. After a while, it begins to work on you.” “The music for The Path of Peace was designed to generate an environmental space,” confirms Dowling. “So when Mark and I discussed the project as a whole, we focused on the potential of unfolding beauty to positively impact people’s lives.” Wagner adds, “The idea of creating something counter-culture and counter-anxiety is very appealing to me. I want to be part of the medicine - the way of beauty, the path of peace.” The artists envision practical applications for personal inner peace in health, therapy, hospice, incarceration and post-traumatic care as well as, more broadly, consciousness raising for an increasingly sensory overloaded and warlike world. “These are times when it’s vital for artists to consider the environment for which we create,” says Dowling. “This is a work about peace, that doubles as a great way to get there.” The Path of Peace balances artistic brilliance in vision and sound with technical mastery and innovation, captured in a product design that beautifully embraces a profound and timely idea. About Visionsound Innovative Arts The aptly named Visionsound has contributed to many key developments in integrating music and technology, winning many accolades and awards. From R&D for the Korg synthesizer company, to the creation of unique sound for top entertainment clients including Michael Jackson and Madonna, Visionsound is at the leading edge of integrative developments. New media and interactive projects include: the Golden Eagle winning documentary A Place to Stand, featuring Patrick Stewart for the United Nations 50th Anniversary, and Powershift, featuring Cameron Diaz for the California Science Museums environmental initiative. Visionsound Innovative Arts is a label of VISIONSOUND® INCORPORATED. For e-mail updates and information regarding Visionsound current and future productions, promotions, tours and repertoire, please visit www.visionsound.com ###
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