Bernie Krause – The Great Animal Orchestra at the Exploratorium

The West Coast exhibit of The Great Animal Orchestra by Bernie Krause and United Visual Artists continues with a special event this week at the Exploratorium, After Dark: College Night! 

Bernie Krause began his career as a musician, pioneering the use of the synthesizer in pop music alongside his musical partner, Paul Beaver. But beginning in 1968, his focus shifted to the natural world, leading him to travels around the world recording and archiving the soundcapes created by non-human organisms in a given habitat — a concept he coined “biophony.” 

The Great Animal Orchestra was originally commissioned by the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in 2016 and is now part of its permanent collection. After learning more about Krause’s work and visiting him at his home in Sonoma County, Hervé Chandès, Artistic Managing Director of the Fondation Cartier, conceived the idea for an audio-visual realization of Krause’s archived recordings, which was made a reality in collaboration with United Visual Artists. The immersive nature of the installation brings to life the biophonies of more than 15,000 species in 2,000 habitats, underscoring the expanse and awe of the natural world, while evoking the endangerment of the ecosystems within.   

This Thursday, September 28^th, the exploratorium and Fondation Cartier will host Krause in conversation with Vincent Tricon, French filmmaker and director of Bernie Krause: A Life with the Great Animal Orchestra. Get an inside look at their experience making the documentary film, and explore other exhibits highlighting the human impacts on the environment in this one-night-only event. This night only, show your college ID to receive free admission to After Dark!