Tapping the Pine Pitch Black : A Compostzition for Wave Hill, Bronx, NY 2025

Materials: Scots pine branches, red oak leaves, piezoelectric microphones, guitar effect pedals, reel to reel tape machine, speakers.

Tapping the Pine Pitch Black is a site-responsive interactive sound installation that uses tree branch trimmings collected from the compost pile at Wave Hill as the basis of a playable interwoven soundscape. Taking inspiration from the “wood wide web,” or the underground mycorrhizal networks that trees use to communicate with one another, this installation uses piezoelectric microphones to convert vibrations from the branches into electric signals that we can here and even play. Modified guitar strings attached to some branches are pluckable and a reel to reel audio tape loop of singing birds winds through the branches as field recordings of the soundscape at Wave Hill play in the background. Impressions of the woodland area at Wave Hill are on the wall in the form of charcoal drawings made with burned tree clippings and green anthotype prints made from bamboo oak leaves found on the grounds. The title refers to both the act of “tapping” a tree for its’ “pitch” or dark resin, as well as literally tapping the branches of the installation to make a sonic pitch. Pine pitch is also used to make rosin for violin bows and because of its dark tar-like qualities, is the origin of the term pitch black. Len’s work reflects on the survival strategies found in the natural world to help find a guiding light in the face of dark times.

Created during the Winter Workspace Residency, Wave Hill, NY 2025

Big thanks to Gabriel de Guzman, Rachel Gugelburger, and everyone at Wave Hill