Listening to Women and the Archives Lo-Fi Textures

Description

Join us for an evening exploring ESS’s Creative Audio Archives through conversation and performance. As part of her ALBA residency, Sarah Lutkenhaus shares discoveries from her time spent in the archives, tracing sonic lineages to better understand Chicago—its past, present, and future.

Guided by an interest in female vocalists, Sarah’s research led her into unexpected terrain: intimate recordings, lo-fi textures, and voice qualities that reveal the personal and political resonances of underground sound.

The evening begins with Sarah sharing some of her reflections on working within the archives—thinking about not only what’s preserved, but how and why, and the significance of listening as a method for historical and cultural inquiry—accompanied by excerpts of archival recordings. She’ll continue the conversation with Carol Genetti, a key figure in Chicago’s experimental music community and in the archive.

The night concludes with solo performances from Genetti and Lutkenhaus, bringing archival inspiration into the present moment. This event free and open to the public.