In The New Obsolete, the 2012 work of Greensboro-based musical performance act Invisible, an IBM typewriter mechanically controls a piano so that, as the typist (in this case, professional typist Jodi Staley) types, the typewriter becomes an instrument. The performance also involves “the Selectric Piano, multichannel video, a new drip-driven drum machine and four human elements,” according to the group’s website. Mark Dixon (instrument maker), Bart Trotman (musician and video producer), Jonathan Henderson (multi-instrumentalist) and Fred Snider (electronics) make up the rest of the group.
Invisible formed in ‘06 as an improv noise-punk act before evolving into what they describe as “a mechanical music museum” and “a reverse-engineered, folk-science day-dream.” These days, instead of bars and clubs, they play galleries and museums, touring with their inventive “artstruments” and other found objects.
Invisible: The New Obsolete is held at the Asheville Art Museum. Performances are from 1-2 p.m. and 3-4 p.m. on both Saturday, Oct. 27 and Sunday, Oct. 28. $10 general admission, $6 Moogfest pass holders. Reserve tickets by calling 253-3227 or purchasing at the Museum’s front desk beginning Friday, Oct. 26.
Learn more about Invisible at soundsinvisible.com.
