CONTEXT

There are only about 40 Puerto Rican (or Puerto Rico based) visual or plastic artists who dedicate themselves - non of them exclusively but many of them continuously - to producing sound art.

At the same time many local musicians have been declaring themselves sound artists, some of them since the 1980s. Both groups - that are by no means clearly divided as the FAS 08 has showed - have been and are trying to explore the world of sound beyond the usual, using body and voice, latest technologies and traditional instruments, natural and industrial sounds and much more as their palette.

Until now only a few works of sound art have found their way into contemporary art collections.

Audio sculptures, installations, performances, mp3 files, CDs or other multimedial pieces of art that include music or diverse sounds are not as easy to appreciate as paintings or traditional sculptures. But by integrating multiple disciplines they perfectly reflect the contemporaneity in contemporary art.

The first Sound Art Fair FAS 08 has showcased mainly local artists and included talks about local sound related topics such as noise pollution. For the next FAS we hope to attract also artists - and buyers - from other places in the world!

Reference list of Puerto Rican Sound Artists (taken from the el-status.com database and therefore containing visual/plastic artists only); Puerto Rican Sound Artists that are commonly labeled as "musicians" can be found all over facebook and myspace - go and explore!


PRE-FAS EVENT



A collective named ABSURDO opened its show on Thursday, August 14, 2008, at La 15 in Santurce. The "absurd" artists are Carlos Fajardo Teo Freytes, Teresa López, Lilliam Nieves, Carmen Olmo-Terrasa, Arnaldo Román, Norma Vila and W&N. Teo Freytes and W&N are also participating at the FAS 08.
ABSURDO website...

For more events please consult dondeveoarte.com!

POST-FAS EVENT



This year's GIRATORIOd'EKSPRESIóN will be hosted by the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón. Festival of experimental art and music, Sunday, August 30, 2008, 1 p.m. - 10 p.m., web: gdekspresion.com. GdEK founder Andrés Lugo will be one of the FAS 08 panelists on Saturday, August 16, 2008, 4 p.m.