King Records Exhibition

Evanston, Cincinnati, Ohio

Proposed as an exhibition about the legacy of Cincinnati’s King Records, this group project is designed as a multi-stage experience which analyzes the social and political context in which King Records and its artists became musical landmarks in post-war American music.

Research into King Records’ in-house recording and manufacturing process supplied a step-by-step framework to guide the progression of the exhibit. The exhibit’s rooms each contain an analysis of the social and economic attitudes of post-war America, relating to the different stages of the manufacturing process which was developed to make vinyl records.

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Prof. Stephen Slaughter & Hank Hildebrandt in collaboration with Hartig, Morgan, and Smith Fall 2020

This exhibition is housed in the former King Records headquarters, standing in Cincinnati’s Evanston neighborhood. Prior studios examined the entire building, and their projects have been used as the foundations of this proposal. The scope of this exhibit only extends to fill a limited area of the previous studio’s proposals.

Each room of this exhibit alludes to the materials and steps involved in producing vinyl records. Starting with recording, visitors experience a variety of spaces with different interactive and video components. The zenith of this exhibit features an exploration of King Records’ artists and legacy, and displays instruments and artifacts which are ubiquitous in American music to this day.

The contents of the KING RECORDS EXHIBITON are as such:

0. Preface

• Video presentations of significant cultural context. Interactive jukebox.

1. Recording

• Peripheral videos of King Records’ recording process.

• Model mixing board interactive display, allowing guests to manipulate classic King recordings.

2. Masters lacquering

• Displays outlining contextual techological advancements of the time.

• Model tanks with record master lacquering solutions demonstrating King Records’ in-house lacquering prcoess.

3. Film room

• Footage displayed in this area describes the context and lifestyles in which King Records’ most famous artists inhabited.

4. Molding & stamping

• Curved displays in this room describe the music industry’s relationship to the rise of counterculture.

• The shortening and narrowing of this hallway are to create the impression of molding and stamping a record blank.

5. Hole-punching

Archways of curved plexiglass in conjunction with dynamic lighting allude to the hole-punching process of record-making.

• Videos within the archways address the uneasy social climate relating to the escalation of the Vietnam War.

6. Record-pressing

• Curved corridor which becomes increasingly narrow, creating a physical sensation of being pressed. Projections and sounds displayed here will be a total culmination of all previous content, and the emotional zenith of this exhibit.

7. MIDI displays room

• An enclosed space with MIDI keyboards, sampling a selection of six instruments used at King Records.

• Activation of these keybaords creates sound and dynamic lighting effects within the space.

8. King Records’ legacy exhibit in collaboration with Hartig, Morgan & Smith

• Exhibition focusing directly of the success and accomplishments of King Records and the artists that became famous with the label. Includes audio content from the documentary King Records: A CIncinnati Legacy.

• Artifacts, instruments, and equipment are to be displayed alongside historical photos of King Records personnel and artists.

Miscellaneous Works

The following works have been curated for this portfolio based on the variety of challenges presented and the techniques used. These works include demolition and new floor plans for a private residence, and a brief diagrammatic exercise focused on the sequencing of key programmatic elements.

Also included in this section is a machinist’s hammer, developed as a beginner’s exercise while learning to use a metal lathe. Projects like the machinist’s hammer and the side table with hairpin legs are representative of this designer’s enthusiasm for hands-on experiences with a wide variety of tools and skills.

This designer hopes to continue to expand this portfolio with in-depth and high-calibre projects large and small, while emphasizing attention to craft and detail.

The following images describe the Nine-Plane FiveZone design exercise.

Nine planar architectural elements are used to define five “zones”, each with specific spatial and atmospheric qualities. The quality of the space defined by the enclosing planes are meant to suggest a certain attitude regarding how unique spaces are used for entry, verticality, gathering, and privacy.