box the compass

“Boxing the Compass” is the action of reciting the 32 principal compass points in clockwise order. Practiced throughout maritime history, it is a way to refer to a heading without having to memorize angles or resort to computing. 32 voices are arranged in the round, reciting all points of the compass, softly encircling those that enter the space. Field recordings from coastal and inland waters provide an ambient backdrop. Columns of light serve as anchor points from which sounds will gently emanate. Attention is drawn to the relationship between navigation, intuition, and the human need to explore. Voices reveal our desire to set a course, water and light remind us to look and feel.