Violin Power

Steina Vasulka, Violin Power, 1970-1978, single-channel video, black and white, sound; 10:04 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by the Ford Motor Company, 2008.21.12, © 1978 Steina Vasulka. Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix, NY

Artwork Details

Title
Violin Power
Artist
Date
1970-1978
Location
Not on view
Copyright
© 1978 Steina Vasulka. Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix, NY
Credit Line
Museum purchase made possible by the Ford Motor Company
Mediums
Mediums Description
single-channel video, black and white, sound; 10:04 minutes
Classifications
Subjects
  • Object — musical instrument — violin
  • Figure female — waist length
  • Performing arts — music — violin
Object Number
2008.21.12
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/2008.21.12

Artwork Description

Steina Vasulka, who was trained as a classical violinist, describes this work as “a demo tape on how to play video on the violin.” Violin Power weaves the audio signal into the video image, linking sight with sound and outlining a new electronic aural-imaging “syntax.” The video ties the two senses together in a single signal and demonstrates natural assumptions about what is seen and what is simultaneously heard. As the tape progresses through three performances, audio wave forms produced by the musical instrument begin to affect the video image and eventually become the video generator itself.

Watch This!: Revelations in Media Art, 2015

Works by this artist (5 items)

View all artworks
Steina Vasulka, Woody Vasulka, Noisefields from Selected Works I, 1974, 12:05 minutes, color, sound, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by the Ford Motor Company, 2008.21.13.4, © 1974 Steina Vasulka. Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix, NY
Noisefields from Selected Works I
Artist
Date1974
12:05 minutes, color, sound
Not on view
Steina Vasulka, Woody Vasulka, Soundgated Images from Selected Works I, 1974, 9:22 minutes, color, sound, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by the Ford Motor Company, 2008.21.13.3, © 1974, Steina Vasulka. Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix, NY
Soundgated Images from Selected Works I
Artist
Date1974
9:22 minutes, color, sound
Not on view
Steina Vasulka, Woody Vasulka, Reminiscence from Selected Works I, 1974, 4:48 minutes, color, sound, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by the Ford Motor Company, 2008.21.13.2, © 1974 Steina Vasulka. Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix, NY
Reminiscence from Selected Works I
Artist
Date1974
4:48 minutes, color, sound
Not on view
Steina Vasulka, Woody Vasulka, Solo for 3 from Selected Works I, 1974, 4:15 minutes, color, sound, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by the Ford Motor Company, 2008.21.13.1, © 1974, Steina Vasulka. Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix, NY
Solo for 3 from Selected Works I
Artist
Date1974
4:15 minutes, color, sound
Not on view

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My Body Sees You
Artist
Date1992
single-channel video, color sound; 05:58 minutes
Not on view
Charlemagne Palestine, Running Outburst, 1975, 5:56 minutes, black & white, sound, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by the Ford Motor Company, 2008.21.6, © 1975, Charlemagne Palestine. Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix, NY
Running Outburst
Artist
Date1975
5:56 minutes, black & white, sound
Not on view
Bill Viola, Silent Life from The Reflecting Pool- Collected Work 1977-80, 1979, 13:14 minutes, color, sound, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by the Ford Motor Company, 2008.21.16.3, © 1979 Bill Viola. Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix, NY
Silent Life from The Reflecting Pool- Collected Work 1977 – 80
Artist
Date1979
13:14 minutes, color, sound
Not on view
Woody Vasulka, Explanation from Selected Works, 1974, 11:45 minutes, color, sound, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by the Ford Motor Company, 2008.21.14.4, © 1974 Woody Vasulka. Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix, NY
Explanation from Selected Works
Artist
Date1974
11:45 minutes, color, sound
Not on view