D
on’t mistake noise for sound. There are in fact many kinds of noise, explained Jordan Knecht, who is among the artists whose work will be featured in a new three-month exhibition from Breckenridge Creative Arts (BCA) entitled “NOISE,” running from December 1 to February 28. When they see the word “noise,” most people think of sonic noise—the sounds we hear, inclusive of ambient background sounds. But living in a world full of quick moving images, billboards and advertisements, visual noise is a huge part of the human experience. Linguistic noise includes “words being thrown at us at a rapid rate,” Knecht said, and social noise is exemplified by our “interaction through social media.” He is quick to point out that “none of these is inherently bad.” Rather, they provide multiple access points for an exploration of the concept. Knecht’s exhibition, which opens December
1 at BCA’s rebranded Gallery@OMH in Old Masonic Hall, consists of a series of installations in which visitors take an active role in the creation of the artwork—whether by creating sounds, pushing buttons, shining lights or following prompts in a printed booklet provided by the artist. The work is generative, meaning that although Knecht created the systems, the creative experiences change each time based on inputs by whomever is interacting with them. Often, the results are quirky or humorous. “I think that it is necessary to fundamentally shift how people are interacting with art in a generation where human beings are born with screens in their hands,” said Knecht. Despite his training as a printmaker and book binder, and despite his love for traditional art forms, he feels these mediums may hold less relevance for younger generations. “I’m interested in art as a reflection of the world that is interacting with it,” he said. “I’m also interested in giving