Two Studies for a Self-Portrait, by Christopher Elmore

Two Studies for a Self-Portrait

by Christopher Elmore

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	1.	Body of Water: James River Running Beneath Boulevard Bridge 17:50
	2.	Body of Water: Beneath the Surface of Frozen Lake Michigan 19:27

about

Casper David Friedrich's "Wanderer above the Sea of Fog" stands as the defining artifact of the Rückenfigur, a figure painted from behind. According to Friedrich, "[t]he painter should paint not only what he has in front of him, but also what he see inside himself."

To me, much of Christopher's work is the process of presenting the Rückenfigur in arc shot. This first album, 2015's "I Am Still Alive," marked the first anniversary of his continued life after its near-end in the icy waters of Lake Michigan. Subsequent works are additional reflections of a life lived past its assumed endpoint — the sound of persistence, not only sticking around but planting roots and growing. Each new entry in his catalog is another few-degree swing of perspective around the figure.

Though our vantage changes, the scenery is constant — water. It is a theme that Christopher has by no means exhausted, and his relationship to it is re-evaluated in each new work. This exploration also informs his practice as a synthesist. What could easily be mistaken for a processed field recording is actually a carefully crafted expression of circuitry. Christopher's ability to call up and control the sound of what would have been the last thing he'd hear is a balancing act of defiance and reflection. A flag in the ground to mark that, borrowing his words, he is still alive yet has not forgotten.

— Dan Derks, July 2020

---------------------------------

In lieu of purchasing this release, please consider donating to a neighborhood-based or city-wide organization to benefit those local to you who need help taking care of themselves.

Here are some valuable resources to consider, local to me here in Chicago:

Brave Space Alliance:
www.bravespacealliance.org

Collaborative for Community Wellness:
www.collaborativeforcommunitywellness.org

Coloring Mental Health Collective:
www.coloringmhc.com

Sista Afya Community Mental Health:
www.sistaafya.com

credits

released July 19, 2020

Recorded on 05 July 2020 by Christopher Elmore, using a Zoom H6 Handy Recorder.

Christopher Elmore played the modular synthesizer on this recording.

Album title lovingly poached from Francis Bacon.

As always, special thanks to my wife Danielle McKinney-Elmore for her continuing love and support.

Extra thanks to Dan Derks for writing a beautiful statement to accompany the album, Peter Speer for inspiring me with his "voltage-controlled environment" videos, Tony Rolando and Tom Erbe for the Make Noise soundhack modules featured prominently on these two recordings, and Benjamin Mauch for making a field recording of the James River that inspired my own attempt at synthesizing the river's sounds.

And thank YOU for listening.

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about

Christopher Elmore Kodak, Tennessee

Christopher Elmore (they/them) makes art and music informed by their personal experiences with mental health and mourning. Their instrument of choice is an ever-evolving modular synthesizer, used to craft longform minimalist droneworks and explore generative composition techniques. ... more

caelmore.com

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