Coloratura: Blending Art, Music & Technology to Explore & Express Our Humanity

Coloratura is an innovative instrument that explores the synesthetic relationship between color and sound through the use of custom-made musical paintbrushes. Each paintbrush is assigned to a different musical note and a different color, allowing the user to create physical, analog art and electronic music simultaneously. Coloratura offers a unique, immersive experience that promotes creativity, self-expression, and artistic exploration.

Performances

Workshops

Frequently Asked Questions

  • ‘Coloratura’ is an Italian term that literally means “coloring” or “to color”. In the musical world, the term is used to refer to vocal trills and ornamentation used by classical/operatic singers.

    Many of the terms we use in reference to art or music (e.g. chromatic, form, harmony, scale, composition, texture, tone) overlap both disciplines and the name of this project reflects this relationship.

  • Electricity! Each paint brush is wired to a circuit board that connects wirelessly to a computer. Each brush is assigned to an individual note in the musical scale; when a brush touches the canvas, it triggers a note on the computer.

    I use music production software to add various effects to the notes and to loop multiple musical phrases on top of each other.

  • For most of my life, my primary artistic focus has been music, but I’ve always been interested in the relationship between visual art and music. I am fascinated by people who have synesthesia (people who are able to see sounds or hear colors.)

    I don’t have synesthesia, but I developed Coloratura as a way to recreate this phenomenon and create my music in an innovative way.

    Ultimately, I want to connect with my audience and provide them with a multi-sensory dynamic experience that will make them think deeply about the parallels between color and sound.

  • Determining the color of each note was one of the most difficult parts of this project! When I began developing Coloratura, I used a scale developed by Alexander Scriabin.

    As I was painting, I found that some of the most beautiful color schemes sounded horrible when “played” together, and some basic chords looked hideous when interpreted visually. I wanted to find a scale that would create a beautiful balance in color and sound.

    After a great deal of trial & error, I decided to use a slightly modified scale based on two systems developed by Steve Zieverink, using the formula (wavelength = speedOfLight / frequency)

    Of all the scales I researched, it was the most visually and musically harmonious.

  • I would love to see more visual & performing artists incorporating Coloratura into their practices to create unique works of art.

    I’m also interested in developing Coloratura as a tool for art/music therapy, since it has played a therapeutic role in my life.

    To accomplish these goals, I’m actively seeking out people in the art, music, and STEM/STEAM fields who can provide technical support, research and development ideas, performance opportunities, networking opportunities, or funding opportunities.

    If you’re interested, please email me at camryivory@gmail.com or fill out the contact form.

Artist Bio

Camry Ivory, a musician, artist, and inventor based in Kansas City, Missouri, is the creative force behind Coloratura, a groundbreaking instrument that transforms ordinary paintbrushes into tools for creating electronic music and analog art simultaneously.  Through her community-driven interactive workshops and captivating live performances, Camry harmoniously blends visual art and music together, redefining the boundaries of creative expression and inviting audiences to challenge conventional notions of art and music. Her passion for using technology to create beautiful, immersive experiences fuels her mission to reignite the innate spark of creativity within us all. Camry has collaborated as a featured performer and workshop facilitator with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Kansas School for the Blind, ArtsKC, Missouri Experimental Sonic Arts Festival (MOXSONIC), Kansas City STEM Alliance, and Folk Alliance International Music Conference, and the Kansas City Artists Coalition Currently, she is the Rita Blitt Interdisciplinary Artist Fellow at the Mulvane Art Museum at Washburn University, where her work continues to explore the intersection of art, music and technology, fostering innovative artistic collaborations.

Events

Workshops

Camry offers tailored workshops and interactive sessions for various groups, including schools, therapy centers, and community organizations. These workshops introduce participants to the Coloratura experience and explore the relationship between art and music in a supportive, inclusive environment. Read more about previous workshops and events here.

Performances

Camry creates live performances that blend visual art with music, creating an intimate and captivating spectacle of colors and sounds. Videos of her live performances are available here.

Get Connected

To learn more about Coloratura, please get in touch with Camry Ivory via the contact form below or sign up for the Coloratura newsletter to stay updated on upcoming events, workshops, and collaborations.

Feedback & Contact Form

Do you have burning questions about Coloratura?
Do you have suggestions for how I can improve future versions?
Are you interested in bringing Coloratura to your school/organization?

Drop me a note in the form below!

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