EAR Forest

The Experimental Arts Research (EAR) forest is an outdoor laboratory for exploring sonic, spatial, and ecological relationships. Located in the forest canopy behind the Fields Art Building at Lewis & Clark College, the EAR Forest is a 16-channel audio system that can be programmed and activated in a wide variety of ways. With speakers installed along a wooded path, the site is designed to support soundwalks, live performances, compositions, audio experiments, and acoustic research.

The EAR Forest supports artists and researchers working across disciplines and exists as a model of integration between art & technology as well as built and natural environments. Functioning as both a research site and creative venue, the EAR Forest supports public interdisciplinary outdoor installations, artist residencies, integration into academic curriculum, and numerous other opportunities for collaboration.

Supported through an art and technology grant, the project is led by professors and artists Dann Disciglio and Jess Perlitz. As co-directors they work to cultivate a creative hub that not only serves Lewis & Clark, but also seeks to build bridges with the broader community.

The EAR Forest is a rough and uneven path through the woods in Portland, Oregon. In an effort to make this accessible to those who aren’t nearby, or who cannot navigate this type of terrain, the audio works are accessible through binaural recordings of the walks, available through our Soundcloud channel.