The Mitchell Street Soundscape is a public art installation designed to connect people through sound. Anyone who lives works or plays on the near south side is invited to suggest different sounds for the speakers to play. The system is made up of 11 different speakers that are connected through a radio transmitter.
The project is a year round public art installation. The soundscape is activated twice a day: from 9 to 10:48 am and 4:30 to 6:30 pm. Examples of auditory environments the project will produce are live feeds of ocean waves off the coast of Puerto Rico, bird calls from Pakistan, rain forest sounds from Mexico, and binaural rhythms for stress reduction. Our neighborhood has many people who were born around the world; a central idea for the project is to connect people across cultures by sharing the sounds that remind people of home - wherever that may be. The speakers are calibrated to be audible only when directly next to one, so as not to be disruptive to daily life and residents.
Regular community feedback sessions inform upcoming sound clips and provide an immediate way for residents to engage with the project. Want to get involved? Check out the form below or look at our calendar of events to learn when the next community feedback session is!
The project is inspired by various soundscape programs around the world with a number of positive impacts associated. These include increasing the walkability of the street, encouraging a calming outdoor environment, and promoting economic activity for local businesses.
Community feedback sessions and general project management is supported by Mitchell Street Arts. The technology was built by Mitch Chaiet, Calvin Schaul, and John Zhang at Experiential Technologies. Thank you to the City of Milwaukee’s Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation and Bader Philanthropies for supporting the project.
