Nathan Wolek

@profwolek

Sound Artist & Audio Researcher. #StetsonU Professor of Digital Arts. 2x Fulbright Scholar. Co-director of #YngSoundSeekers.

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Nathan Wolek@profwolek· 21d

I am co-organizing a special session on "Inclusive Acoustics" for the upcoming ASA conference in Baltimore. Submissions are due August 17. Message me if you would like more details on submitting! Or please share with anyone you think might be interested. #acoustics #sound 🔊🎤🎧

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Jul 13

⚠️ Audio warning: The boom is loud, especially over headphones. Lower your volume before listening. About seven minutes after launch, the Falcon 9 first-stage booster returned to the landing site—bringing a sonic boom with it. This second clip captures that moment.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Jul 13

Night launches have their own atmosphere. The rocket's glow seems brighter against the dark sky, and the rumble and crackle feel amplified by the stillness. Recorded near Vandenberg during a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch while visiting with the PASCAL team from BYU. 🔊 Sound on.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Jun 10

To celebrate today's Artemis III crew announcement, here's my field recording from Artemis II's launch, captured about 12 miles from Launch Complex 39B. Headphones or speakers recommended to hear the low crackle. 🌎🚀 🌕

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Oct 9

For those outside of Volusia, our county council recently pulled funding for arts organizations. These were local grants made to local organizations using local tax dollars. 1/6

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Oct 2

Visited our local morning TV news program to talk about Young Sound Seekers and Stetson University. Glad I was joined by Marvel and Chaylee, who shared their perspective as students working on this experiential learning project. Watch the video here: www.fox35orlando.com/video/1717599

Sitting on set in armchairs during our interview. The anchor and I are discussing something and gesturing with our hands. Anchor Stephanie Rivas sits on the left, while myself, Marvel Olson, and Chaylee Martin are lined up on the right.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Sep 28

"Canaveral National Seashore is the best classroom I've ever worked in. Every time I lead a Young Sound Seekers excursion or take students from Stetson, I am filled with gratitude that we have a place like Canaveral nearby. 1/4

Dr. Nathan standing at a podium in the ACA Harris Theatre. Members of the audience in the first two rows can be seen in the foreground with their backs to the camera. On the screen behind me is the title card for our documentary, Postcards from Canaveral. The subtitle reads "an audio tour by Young Sound Seekers."

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Sep 24

🔊🐦🌊 Waves, wildlife, wind. Discover the soundscape of Canaveral in Postcards from Canaveral. Film premiere Sept. 26, 7 PM @ Atlantic Center for the Arts. Free event. Bring a friend!

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Sep 19

✨👂 Experience Canaveral through the ears of Young Sound Seekers. Postcards from Canaveral premieres Sept. 26, 7 PM @ Atlantic Center for the Arts. Free & open to the public. Join us next Friday IN ONE WEEK!

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Sep 13

🌊🎥 Don’t miss the premiere of Postcards from Canaveral! Sept. 26, 7 PM @ Atlantic Center for the Arts (NSB). A 26-min film celebrating the voices & soundscapes of Canaveral Nat’l Seashore. Free & open to all!

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Aug 14

One of my big summer projects has been working on this documentary. I am excited to say that we are close to sharing the finished video with the public. Please make plans to join us for this premiere event in New Smyrna Beach. It's FREE and open to EVERYONE. 1/3

Title card from the documentary. The image shows a wooden ramp descending toward the beach with the Atlantic Ocean filling the horizon. Text reads, "Postcards from Canaveral. An audio tour by Young Sound Seekers."

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· May 23

Super excited to see these hit the NPS website! Our collection of six Young Sound Seekers activities are now available for download!!! 1/2 www.nps.gov/teachers/cla...

Screenshot from the web page linked in this post. The title reads, "Young Sound Seekers Listening Activities, Complete Collection." There is a link at the top to Download Lesson Plan. The bottom of the page contains our introductory statement.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· May 20

Look forward to catching up with some people & meeting new folks that are passionate about sound! You can find my talk on Thursday morning (4aED5). #ASA188 #ASAICA25 #acoustics @asa-news.bsky.social 2/2

Graphic for the 188th ASA conference. It features the black silhouettes of 5 jazz musicians against a yellow background. From left to right, they are playing banjo, fiddle, clarinet, trumpet, and string bass. The logos for the ICA and ASA organizations float above their heads. Below them, the text reads: "188th Acoustical Society of America meeting, joint with 25th International Congress on Acoustics."

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· May 20

Getting ready to leave for New Orleans & the Acoustical Society of America meeting. I'm excited to present in the education block about a speed of sound demo developed for Young Sound Seekers. My lesson design uses common field recording gear to make the speed of sound audible in real-time. 1/2

Title slide from my presentation. Two young men from Young Sound Seekers outside wearing headphones. Kyle stands next to a microphone about to clap his hands together. Francesco's hands are folded together resting along with his chin on top of his mobility cane. The text reads: "An audible speed of sound in air demonstration for outdoor settings. Dr. Nathan Wolek, Professor of Digital Arts. Lydia Pfund Endowed Professor. Stetson University."

A diagram of the equipment setup using emojis. Curved lines between the graphics represent cable connections. The first mic is closest to the field recorder on the left & connected by a curved line to channel one. Next to the first mic is a set of hands clapping. The second mic on the right is connected by a curved line that stretches across the slide & meets channel two of the field recorder. A double headed arrow sits between the two mics to convey distance with text that reads "greater than 100 feet, greater than 30 meters." A pair of headphones is also connected to the field recorder by a curved line. The text at the top reads: "Wolek - Speed of Sound Demo."

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· May 15

@davidhendy.bsky.social Spotted your book in the Chicago Public Library today! #noise #listening

Close up of books on metal library shelves. The bindings face out so that people can read the titles printed on them. Among other titles about listening sit 2 copies of “Noise” by David Hendy.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· May 15

…then caught Hadestown at the CIBC theatre. 🎭👷🌹 2/2

Exterior of the CIBC Theater. The marquee is gold with the building name in white letters. Its top has a wavy shape, almost like a sine wave. The white show board on the side reads “Hadestown” in black letters. People are cuing up under the sign to present their tickets.

Penny, Bethany, & Grandpa pose for a photo inside the theater with the stage in the background. Other people are milling about in the seats behind them after the show’s conclusion. The stage itself is pretty dark, but there are pops of blue lights & the silhouette of the small bandstand where musicians sat onstage.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· May 15

Wednesday - Today was filled with culture. Spent the day at the Art Institute… 🎨🧑‍🎨 1/2

Exterior of the Art Institute of Chicago. The 3 story, grey stone building looks wide and flat with grey skies behind it. The central entrance sits at the top of stairs that are about half the length of building, and is framed by a triangular roof peak. The three windows above each door are tall rectangles with a semi-circle on top. This shape is mimicked by the stone work on either side of the entrance.

Bethany shows her Grandpa details on Seurat painting. The 7 feet by 10 feet painting title is “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”. It depicts Parisians enjoying leisure time on the banks of the Seine River. The painting uses tiny dots, a technique known as pointillism. Bethany is just a few feet away from the surface on the right, showing her Grandpa the brushstroke details.

Bethany imitates pose in Andy Warhol self portrait. The painting is square, only about 20 inches tall & wide. The color palette is limited, with only three shades of green & a pink. His chin is resting on left hand, with the fingers loosely arranged. He stares softly at the viewer. Bethany stands to the right of the painting doing her best imitation of his pose.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· May 15

Tuesday, part 2 - Took the L to Wrigley Field. Many updates to the ballpark since the last time we were here, but the atmosphere remains unmatched in baseball. This is the greatest place to watch a game, especially when the Cubs score 3 in the 9th to walk off with a win! ⚾️ 🧢

Our family poses for a photo under the iconic red billboard at the corner of Clark & Addison in daylight. It reads “Wrigley Field, home of Chicago Cubs. Marlins vs Cubs, 6:40 PM.” From left to right is Amy, my dad, Bethany, me, & Penny.

Dad’s selfie from our seats in row 13 behind home plate. On the field, the visiting team is taking batting practice. The historic manual score board looms over the outfield bleachers. Beyond left & right field, there are giant video boards. Both have messages welcoming fans to Wrigley Field.

The final score on the left field video board. The graphic has a green background and mostly white lettering. It reads “Final, Marlins 4, Cubs 5.” The box score below it shows the runs inning by inning, including the 3 scored by the Cubs in the bottom of the ninth.

Harry Carry statue after dark. This large bronze statue features the famous broadcaster from about the thigh up. He wears a light jacket and oversized eyeglasses. He seems to reach out towards the crowd with his microphone, a gesture he used often during the 7th inning stretch. Behind him, there are neon signs for “Chicago Cubs” & “Budweiser Bleachers”.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· May 14

Tuesday, part 1 - Spent the morning & early afternoon exploring the Loop & River on foot. 🏙️🚶🏻‍♂️

Looking North across the Chicago River at DuSable Bridge. On the water, a tour boat heads east toward Lake Michigan. Across the river are the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower, skyscrapers from the 1920s. The Wrigley Building has an almost white stone facade, an unusual triangular footprint, and a clock tower. The Tribune Tower has a darker stone facade and neo-gothic details, like the flying buttresses at the top of its tower.

Cloud Gate sculpture by Anish Kapoor, also known as “the bean” because of its distinctive shape. Its surface is a polished silver mirror that reflects the sky & buildings. People in Millennium Park dot the plaza that surrounds this sculpture, with many taking selfies of their own reflections. Behind it lies the edge of Chicago’s skyline where it ends before the lakefront parks.

Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park. The circular base is approximately 100 feet across. Multiple jets and sculptures jet water up toward a central peak about 20 feet high. Behind it lies the edge of Chicago’s skyline where it ends before the lakefront parks.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· May 13

For dad, the family home on Waveland. The home in Portage Park was built in the 1940s & stayed in family until 2000s. 2/2

Dad poses on the street across from the old family home. The covered front porch is 8 steps above the street & a white screen door covers the entrance. Although this bungalow style house was built in the 1930s, it has had several updates over the decades. The exterior was covered in the light cream stucco. Our family added the second floor apartment to accommodate extra family after World War 2.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· May 13

Monday - Rented a car & went searching for places we used to live. 🏡🚙 For Amy & I, our first apartment in Rogers Park & second apartment in Evanston. 1/2

A courtyard apartment building. A metal gate closes off the entrance to the central courtyard that sits in the middle of the U shaped building. It is 3 stories tall with a light red brick facade & sandstone accents.

Amy and I pose outside for a photo in front of the door that leads to our first apartment. The door is painted wood with 3 large glass panels. A mixture of brick & sandstone accents frame the doorway. Above the door, you can see the numbers 1445.

A walk up apartment building. The dark red brick facade is 3 stories tall with two entrances facing the street. The doorways are raised several steps above street level. The photo looks through a tree taller than the building but without leaves in the center, and two cars parallel parked on the street. On the left and right are shorter trees blooming with dark pink flowers.

Amy and I pose outside for a photo in front of the door that leads to our second apartment. The door is on a landing 3 steps above street level, where we stand. The doorway is painted wood with a grid of small glass panels. The sandstone accents frame the doorway completely. On the door glass, you can see the numbers 904 & 906.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· May 12

Hello Chicago! 👋 Spending a few days in the Windy City with dad & my family. Less than 24 hours & we’ve already checked 2 things off our must-do list: ✅ ride the L 🚃 ✅ eat deep dish pizza 🍕

Downtown Chicago, looking across Ida B Wells Drive. Cars pass in the foreground. A mural is on the side of a building across the street. In the distance is Willis Tower (aka Sears Tower), the city’s tallest skyscraper.

Bethany & Amy seated inside the L train. Only Bethany’s eyes are seen through an opening in a partition, while Amy smiles behind her.

Dad seated inside an L train. He has one hand on his large suitcase & the other elbow propped against the seat beside him.

The family gathered around a table about to eat pizza. All five people a looking at the camera & smiling. Our plates each hold a slice waiting for us to begin eating.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· May 3

Group photo with the Young Sound Seekers. This photo was taken on the Stetson campus at our final monthly outing. The group of 19 is posing by Holler fountain, a landmark in the center of campus. Behind us are tall palm trees, while the ground beneath us is brick pavers.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Apr 27

Because I'm usually leading the group, I don't have the best pictures. My awesome student assistants will share better ones later on Instagram (Follow us there! -> yngsoundseekers). I'm just posting a few images to mark this milestone. #CommunityEngagement #ExperientialLearning 3/3

Cutting the cake. Miss Meghan standing behind a picnic table cutting the slices as several hungry kids wait for a piece.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Apr 27

Sincere thanks to partners National Park Service, Canaveral National Seashore, Conklin Davis Center For the Visually Impaired, Atlantic Center for the Arts, & Stetson University. BIGGER thanks to my co-director Eve Payor. #environmental #education #accessibility 2/3

Kyle gets his picture taken next to our John B statue. Mr Chris takes the photo, while Francesco waits.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Apr 27

Today was the final monthly excursion for @yngsoundseekers. Lots of emotions as I reflect on 5 years of adventures with these kids. Above all, I'm super proud of all that we accomplished together! #soundscape #FieldRecording #listening 1/3

My thank you award. A small, golden statue shaped like a microphone. On the black base reads the white letters "YSS", which is an acronym I frequently use in emails. Eve got one too.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Feb 21

Score Part 4: Structure #OathOfOffice #WordsMatter #USPolitics 2/3

Score Part 4: Structure

This piece will exist from January 20, 2025 until January 20, 2029. If for any reason, both the current President and Vice President leave office prior to the end of this term, then the piece may end early. If not, then it will last four years.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Feb 21

When leaders normalize calling others ‘enemies,’ we should all be alarmed. When rhetoric turns into action, as we’ve already seen with attacks on higher education, we can’t ignore it. #HigherEd #HigherEducation 1/3

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Feb 17

Score Part 3: Form 2/4

Score Part 3: Form

Because it is not possible to render an audio file with a duration of 4 years, this piece will need to be generative. Use a computer software program such as Cycling'74 Max to generate sonic output in real time. It should be presented in a gallery setting rather than a concert, so that changes in the output can unfold for hours at a time, from open to close.

Nathan Wolek@profwolek· Feb 17

When the word ‘enemies’ is spoken by those in power, how can we ignore it? I feel the actions taken against American higher education these last few weeks prove that this was not just empty rhetoric in 2021. #SoundArt #SoundInstallation #ArtAsActivism 1/4