Radio York featuring “Bells for York,” a radio project by Zarouhie Abdalian

The sounds of bells variously signify a call to service, a warning, a memorial, or the marking of a historical time. In Bells for York, the voices of York, of Sumter County, of the Black Belt give expression to these associations through recorded speech and song. The sound work functions as a kind of exalted echo of the community of York, reverberating through its downtown. Bells for York proposes itself not as a fixed or discrete monument but as a charged field animated by the stories, sentiments, and songs of the people that comprise its audience.

The artwork, Bells for York, spans the distance of the radio broadcast and is available for reception 24 hours a day. Recorded sounds of bells link field recordings, readings, performances, and songs that comprise the broadcast. Each of the performances or readings responds to a prompt related to the ringing of bells.

Bells for York is a monument to the people of York. This public sound sculpture is an outgrowth of the Making Art in Public workshops and the Ashé Festival. It’s also an extension of previous sculptural works the artist has realized including Occasional Music and Recitations (…pour le triomphe de la liberté et de l’égalité…) in which public space is activated through sound. The piece is intended as an installation available at all hours to anyone with a radio receiver within broadcast range of the installed transmitter.

Radio York: “Bells for York” is a radio broadcast project by Zarouhie Abdalian, Coleman Center for the Arts Artist-In-Residence. This radio serves as a physical reminder that the voices of York and Sumter County have been curated and preserved for all to appreciate. Thanks for you work, Z! Tune in to Radio York in downtown York on 1710 AM or listen online from anywhere at bit.ly/Bells_For_York access the link in our bio.

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