AMPLIFIED ELEPHANTS

"And the spectators could appreciate yet again the benefits of instant communication to be found in such a music making blend of the prepared and the improvised."

Clive O'Connell, THE AGE  2007

ABOUT THE AMPLIFIED ELEPHANTS

The Amplified Elephants is an ensemble for sound artists with and without disability. Formed in 2006, the Amplified Elephants are managed by the Footscray Community Arts Centre's Artlife Program. Artlife is a program dedicated to providing arts workshops and art outcomes to people with intellectual disability. James Hullick, JOLT Artistic Director, is the sound art tutor for the Footscray Community Arts Centre's Artlife Program and the Amplified Elephants has emerged as a result of his teaching and the Artlife Program's community development strategies.

As an ensemble the Amplified Elephants are dedicated to pursuing professional sonic outcomes that explore the wonders and delights of the sonic world in which we live. There is an effort to avoid mainstream sonic practice and to find new and challenging ways to share the discovery of the experience of sound.

...and that shared creative discovery lies on the path of enlightenment.

The Amplified Elephants have performed on several occasions in events presented in partnership by the Foostcray Community Arts Centre and JOLT Arts Inc. These events are documented on this website: THE NIS (2009), WIGGA (2008), INTERACTACON (2007) and CRANKY ROBOTICS (2007). And of course the Amplified Elephants have performed on many occasions through projects not involving JOLT.

Please read on for biographies of the various Amplified Elephant sound artists.

CONTACT

The Amplified Elephants are managed through the Footscray Community Arts Centre by:

NIKKI ZERELLA

Artlife Co-ordinator

Phone: 03 9362 8888 

Fax: 03 9362 8866 

Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

www.footscrayarts.com

AMPLIFIED ELEPHANTS:BIOS

Catherine has worked with the Amplified Elephants since the group began at the Footsrcay Community Arts Centre in 2006. Catherine has expanded her abilities from working in a minimalist aesthetic on keyboards to working more intensively with percussion and violin. One day Catherine's cheekiness will get her into trouble but for now the Amplified Elephants are particularly fond of her spontaneous air guitar sessions and her unashamed love of Shannon Noll. Catherine recently performed in JOLT's WIGGA CONCERT 2.

Stephen recently joined the Footscray Community Arts Centre's Amplified Elephants ensemble. He established himself within the ensemble as a conductor and as a synthesizer artist whose delicate touch is the envy of many a keyboard player. When not making sound, Stephen likes to explore new words in foreign languages. Stephen performed with the Amplified Elephants in concert 2 of JOLT's WIGGA project.

Enza's practice is marked by her ambition to be 'in the moment' when performing. Enza doesn't spend time planning her sonic adventures, but rather is keen  to see where her improvisations might take her and her audience. Enza is a founding member of the Amplified Elephants and has performed in all the JOLT shows that have included the Amplified Elephants: CRANKY ROBOTICS, INTERACTACON, SHIMMERSONG, THE NIS.

The key feature of Robyn's sound arts practice is her desire to learn more about sound, to ask why things are the ways they are and to seek to improve the way her creative self interfaces with other sound makers and audiences. As a founding member of the Amplified Elephants, Robyn has performed in all the JOLT events that have included that ensemble: CRANKY ROBOTICS, INTERACTACON, SHIMMERSONG, THE NIS.

Some of June's fondest memories are of playing music with her family in her younger days. Her love of community in music making perhaps explains why her most cherished aspect of the creative process is to play with others in ensembles. June is particularly fond of simple rhythms and likes to explore the infinite timbres of sound.

June has performed in FCAC's & JOLT's  CRANKY ROBOTICS, INTERACTACON, SHIMMERSONG, THE NIS.

Jay is a founding member of the Amplified Elephants. He works with synthesizers and found objects as key aspects of his creative process. Jay is a great fan of the Carlton Football Club and has a rather uncanny ability to name the capital cities of the world.

Jay has performed in FCAC & JOLT's CRANKY ROBOTICS, INTERACTACON, SHIMMERSONG, WIGGA CONCERT 2, THE NIS

Liz recently turned fabulous 50. She has spent six years with the Artlife Program at the Footscray Community Arts Centre. Liz is a founding member of the  Amplified Elephants (founded in 2006) with whom she has been able to explore the wonderful delights of sound and creativity. Liz loves to sing, loves parties  and fun times and is an avid supporter of the Carlton Football Club. Liz has performed in  several shows co-presented by FCAC and JOLT, including: CRANKY ROBOTICS, INTERACTACON, SHIMMERSONG, WIGGA CONCERT 2, THE NIS.