CDM Supported Project 'Confluences' launches at Ucross
Teri Rueb's and Laurids Sonne's site-specific sound piece Confluences to be released at the Ucross Foundation at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 31.
Confluences is an emplaced sound experience blending the stories, sounds and seasons of Ucross in a layered composition that covers the main campus and selected ranchland of the residency program. Sounds play in response to one's movement as they walk with a mobile device, running a free downloadable app, while wearing headphones. Voices of valley residents sit alongside artist residents, the regional community, and the many caretakers of this place, all mingling with field recordings of the site taken in different seasons.
Confluences draws its name from the point where Piney Creek, Clear Creek, and Coal Creek meet on the Ucross grounds, and symbolically from the meeting of people, place, memory, and time. Visitors are encouraged to slow their pace, explore with intention, and attune themselves to the stories and natural cadences that define this remarkable landscape.
Launched in 2022, Confluences marked the beginning of an intimate creative relationship between artists Rueb and Sonne and the land’s unfolding rhythms.
“Time expands in all directions,” said Rueb, “measured not only by geological strata beneath our feet but also by the beat of our own steps. The elements—earth, water, wind—and the diverse voices contributing to this piece have rekindled my connection to place, time and again, with deep appreciation.”
A Ucross alumna, Rueb has been creating GPS-based, site-responsive sound installations since 1996. Her innovative work has been commissioned by institutions ranging from museums and arboretums to cultural centers throughout North America and Europe. Her contributions have earned international accolades, including a prestigious Award of Distinction from Prix Ars Electronica.
“In the Clear Creek Valley,” Sonne reflected, “this ever-turning wheel of wind and weather speaks of resilience and coexistence—of how we relate to each other and to our environment in ways that extend well beyond what is immediately visible. We can hear it, if we’re willing to truly listen. Listening is an act of care, of mutual respect and presence. I’m deeply thankful to the many people and communities of the Clear Creek Valley and beyond who welcomed me, whether I found shelter behind a barn or faced into the wind at dawn.”
Sonne, a Danish documentary media artist, researcher, and organizer, works across still and moving image, installation, and sound. His practice seeks new forms of expression within documentary traditions, blending social and spatial engagement. For ten years, Sonne was part of the international art collective Parfyme, creating socially engaged works that encouraged community dialogue and discovery. His projects have been exhibited widely in public spaces, festivals, and cultural venues around the world.
To bring Confluences to life, Rueb and Sonne collaborated with media artist and software developer Cristobal Mendoza, who developed the custom app, designed exclusively for use at Ucross.
The artists will speak at the Confluences launch on Ucross Founder’s Day, May 31, where they will be joined by members of the local community who contributed to the project. The event begins with a 10 a.m. reception in the covered pavilion near the meeting point of the three creeks. Guests can enjoy light refreshments and receive a complimentary printed field guide.
Beginning June 6, Confluences will be available to the public every Friday at no cost. Visitors can begin their experience at the Ucross Art Gallery between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Headphones and a fully charged mobile phone are recommended, and the free app (available for iOS and Android) should be downloaded in advance over WiFi. A limited number of devices will also be available to borrow from the gallery.