Fall 1998 Vol. 6, No. 4 "Composed Composer" Interview by Margaret Doty After a fascinating tour of Dan廣 sculpture-filled studio at his north-end home, I sat with Dan in his sunny vegetable and flower garden while he shared his insights. Dan is first and foremost a composer who began to combine his interest in visual arts with his music. He sees art as a way to tell the stories of people廣 lives and experiences that would otherwise be lost to us. Music and sound infuse his sculptures with an energy that engages the viewer empathically. The sculpture in progress featured in the above photo tells of experiences of workers from 1934 and 1935 in the lime mines of Southern Minnesota. A long paper speaker, from which sound emanated, hung from the high ceiling of his studio. The voices of workers had been composed into haunting rhythms echoed from the speakers throughout the studio. Senn explained that he talked with the remaining miners about their experiences: "The stories are meaningful because first of all the stories are well told and very well rehearsed, and because the sound of the voices is quite extraordinary. I think some redundant story telling is not a good thing, but I know that some stories need to be told again and again because they need to be remembered." Dan grew up in a musical family and spent many years as a university professor in Indiana. He then left teaching, sold his house, intending to move to Seattle. Tacoma, however, proved more affordable and offered the quality of life he was seeking. "For me Tacoma is a perfect fit, because I have kids and my neighborhood is safe. There廣 no crime, generally speaking, in spite of what people think. Tacoma has great libraries, and great bus transportation, and it廣 close to the airport. I love living here. Now, my wife and I could afford to move to Seattle, but we wouldn廠 think of it. Tacoma has a great quality of life." Dan is known for his unique series of pendulum-based sculptural instruments and an improvis-ational form of video called percussive video. His underlying philosophy is that "sound art is a basis for artistic freedom in experimental music and art." Avoiding the ponderous, Dan creates inviting titles for his sculptures: Shmoos Harp, Telelyre: Teleliar (based on the Senate testimony of Colonel Oliver North), Too Lips, Pendulyre, Tooned Pendulyre. He advocates art "which smartly plays the fool" and that originates from playfulness and childlike explorations. Dan廣 innovative sound installation festivals have been sponsored by the City of Tacoma Arts Commission since 1991. During September in Europe, Dan exhibits in a one-person show at the International Paper 7 Festival in Duren, Germany. Dan will install, in keeping with the theme of "Electric Paper," suspended paper tubes and 40 seven-foot strips of fax paper that emanate sounds. On September 8th, he shows at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. September 18th finds Senn at the Kastrich Gallery in Mainz, Germany, showing two sound sculpture instruments and several of his mixed media sound "tulips." In late September through early October Dan completes his European tour with a sound performance at the Hermit Festival in Plasy, Czechoslovakia. After his return to Tacoma, Dan will complete the 2nd phase of his art residency at the Tacoma branch of the University of WA (see drawing below). Dan, along with glass artist Dale Chihuly, will be represented in the University of WA Public Art Collection. For a local site of Dan廣 work, visit the Sound Garden at Owens Beach - an art project developed by the Point Defiance Promenade Design Team. For more information go to: www.newsense-intermedium.com.