Copper Ouroboros weaves together the geography, culture, ecology, economics, politics, and history of copper mining in Butte, Montana. The full video is 20:36.
Link to projectI collected sounds from the Ringing Rocks of western Montana—a unique geologic phenomena (there are only three similar locations in the world) where the rocks chime like bells with struck. In nearby Butte, Montana sits the Berkely Pit, a large open-pit mine where copper and other mineral were harvested since the late 19th century. The New Songs for Butte Mining Camp, published in 1917, contains only lyrics and relied heavily upon traditional folk tunes familiar to the miners. The songs were about union solidarity, better pay, and better living and working conditions for the miners. Using the sounds of the Ringing Rocks, I have recreated some of the miners' songs, allowing the sounds of stones being struck to echo the conflicts between the workers, the industrialists, and the environment.
Link to projectI collected sounds from the Ringing Rocks of western Montana—a unique geologic phenomena (there are only three similar locations in the world) where the rocks chime like bells with struck. In nearby Butte, Montana sits the Berkely Pit, a large open-pit mine where copper and other mineral were harvested since the late 19th century. The Pit now is encircled by sonic deterrent devices called "wailers" that play bird distress calls and alarms to scare off waterfowl from the polluted waters below.
The New Songs for Butte Mining Camp, published in 1917, is a booklet of protest songs about union solidarity, better pay, and better living and working conditions for the miners. Using the sounds of the Ringing Rocks, I have recreated some of the miners' songs, allowing the sounds of stones being struck to echo the conflicts between the workers, the industrialists, and the environment—all played from a wailer as a warning
Link to project
This painting includes a lyrics page from New Songs for Butte Mining Camp, a book of protest songs for mining unions. Sulfuric acid (the ochre colors in the paintings) is the byproduct of extracting copper nanoparticles from copper sulfate. This acid was also commonly used in heap leaching. Copper oxide (the blue color seen in the paintings) was created by marinating copper plates in a bath of vinegar—about the same pH value as the water in the Berkeley Pit. These paintings are constantly changing as the acid and oxide both crystalize and slowly dissolve the cotton paper.
This memorializes the thousands of snow geese that died after landing in The Berkeley Pit—a defunct open-pit copper mine—during a brutal 2016 winter. The toxic waters cauterized their insides. Sulfuric acid (the ochre colors in the paintings) is the byproduct of extracting copper nanoparticles from copper sulfate. This acid was also commonly used in heap leaching. Copper oxide (the blue color seen in the paintings) was created by marinating copper plates in a bath of vinegar—about the same pH value as the water in the Berkeley Pit. These paintings are constantly changing as the acid and oxide both crystalize and slowly dissolve the cotton paper.
This memorializes the thousands of snow geese that died after landing in The Berkeley Pit—a defunct open-pit copper mine—during a brutal 2016 winter. The toxic waters cauterized their insides. Sulfuric acid (the ochre colors in the paintings) is the byproduct of extracting copper nanoparticles from copper sulfate. This acid was also commonly used in heap leaching. Copper oxide (the blue color seen in the paintings) was created by marinating copper plates in a bath of vinegar—about the same pH value as the water in the Berkeley Pit. These paintings are constantly changing as the acid and oxide both crystalize and slowly dissolve the cotton paper.