“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Monroe Park in Eugene was drenched in this dreamy quadraphonic installation on the evenings of July 20 and 24, 2025. Commissioned by the City of Eugene’s “Art in the Parks” program, it celebrated the beauty of the park and its neighborhood. Nearly 200 people attended.
In the first half of the year, sounds were collected from Monroe Park, mixed and modified in a recording studio, and then used to create the two-hour sound installation. Four speakers were set up in the southwest corner of the park, playing back these sounds for two surreal hours.
A 39-minute stereo version can be heard above; an interview on Eugene’s KLCC aired June 18.
Many thanks to Dave H. and Joyce G. for massive assistance, and to those folks who contributed recordings: Lark, David P., Tim Kahn, Kevin, Yuval, and Jonathan Tremblay. Also thanks to three sponsors: the City of Eugene’s “Art in the Parks” grant program, Smeed Communications and Eye Beam Event Services.
This “recursive ambient” piece is roughly organized into eight movements, a nod to musique concrète (studio techniques that originated in the 1950s). Here’s where the setup appeared in Monroe Park:
Some people identified all the sounds during the installation. What do you hear?
- 0:36 Merry go round (slowed 500%)
- 4:08 Stretched string
- 4:51 Birds
- 9:51 David’s voice (stretched and retuned)
- 14:15 Kids sledding after the ice storm
- 16:21 Playground, kids playing and adults talking
- 17:21 Teeter totter
- 18:00 Helicopter
- 18:51 Metal playground walkway
- 18:58 Trains, kids, drums
- 19:51 Congas
- 22:02 Guitars and singers
- 22:45 Electric car
- 28:51 Basketball “net”
- 28:58 Basketball hitting cement (slowed/stretched)
- 32:38 Basketball games
- 33:52 Rain