The term “functional fixedness” isn’t tossed around in regular conversation, despite its permeation of daily life. It’s a psychological concept used to describe peoples’ inability to see an object’s utility beyond its standard use — hangers only exist to hold clothes, and forks will never graduate beyond holding food. The concept can apply to people, too: Wasn’t it always weird to see your grade-school teachers in something other than their classrooms?
When it comes to local musicians and their positions as such in the Triangle, an exhibit called Minus Sound Research seeks to destroy the idea that artists are restricted to one medium.
The event first came to life six years ago, and the core concept behind it has always been the same: presenting the community with visual art created by local musicians. Durham’s Motorco Music Hall hosts MSR until December 3, making this year the first time the event has been outside of Chapel Hill.
Two local musicians co-curate the event. John Harrison is the vocalist for North Elementary, while Maria Albani makes music on her own as Organos. Harrison said the idea for the event came about as an outlet to display visual work done by his fellow musician friends.
“In this community, we’re in such a unique place that most of the musicians I know do other stuff like visual art or writing or this and that,” Harrison said. “It’s a unique perspective, if you primarily know somebody as a musician, to see this other side.”
This year’s exhibit features work by artists from Flat Duo Jets, Shit Horse and The Love Language, to name a few. For only the second year, the reception will feature live music — this time by noise rocker Inspector 22 and folk-pop trio Birds and Arrows.
Pete and Andrea Connolly, the married couple that makes up two-thirds of Birds and Arrows, regularly incorporate their own handmade art into the band’s posters, album art and merchandise. Drummer Pete Connolly said that the two mediums made life easier for the band economically while allowing them to develop their own style.
“Both of us doing the visual art in the band keeps it all together,” he said. “We don’t have to spread our creativity to other people to be involved in our situation, we can kind of keep it small.”
Missy Thangs, who plays keyboard and sings backup vocals for The Love Language, was inspired by an uncomfortable moment at a show this February in San Francisco. Someone — no one ever figured out who — let slip a tremendously foul fart. Thangs said that the close crowd and small space forced her and her bandmates to deal with the discomfort, a concept she applied when it came to creating her piece, which combines paint on canvas with an audio component.
