Porch Swing Orchestra
Porch Swing Orchestra Podcast
VAST IS THE SEA: A CONVERSATION WITH SKLOSS AND THOMAS HOOPER
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VAST IS THE SEA: A CONVERSATION WITH SKLOSS AND THOMAS HOOPER

A mini-series featuring artists participating in VAST IS THE SEA curated by PSO presented by Co-Lab Projects in Austin, Texas
(L to R) Sandy Carson, Thomas Hooper, Karen Skloss. Photo by Clyde Hooper

On the pod, I am joined by SANDY CARSON AND KAREN SKLOSS of the band SKLOSS and artist and tattooist THOMAS HOOOPER. This episode continues our series of conversations with artists participating in VAST IS THE SEA a series curated by @porchswingorchestra consisting of  8 presentations from artists whose diverse works are united by their explorations of images, sound, and community presented by Co-Lab projects in Austin, Texas. 

Our final presentations will occur at 7 and 8 pm on Saturday, February 24th.

SKLOSS play live accompanied by custom-crafted visuals by THOMAS HOOOPER
On Saturday, February 24th at 8 pm

You can purchase tickets on a sliding scale starting at $5 at https://withfriends.co/event/17182339/vast_is_the_sea

Co-Lab Projects is a legendary art space whose current configuration is a 40 x 10 x 10-foot concrete culvert sitting on an open plot of land just east of the city. The culvert will be awash in projections and stereo sounds on either end of the ceiling. The floor is covered in a sea of blue and green moving blankets.

Viewers/listeners are invited to lay next to the performers who occupy the center space to float on a raft of oceanic sounds while gazing at shape-shifting videos projected upon the ceiling.

SKLOSS during a rehearsal at Co-Lab Projects. Video Still by Christos Pathiakis

SKLOSS blends elements of heavy psychedelia, post-metal drones, meditative drums, and distorted riffs performed with honesty and deliberation. The resulting, powerful atmospheric wall of sound is unique only to SKLOSS.

A self-released debut EP 'Voices Travel Through This' was released in 2022.
In the winter of 2023, SKLOSS holed up at Point West Studios and recorded their S/T debut LP for release in 2024.

Karen Skloss is a filmmaker who has been on Barack Obama’s pick list and edited seminal films about artists Syd Barrett and Townes Van Zandt, and was a founding member of the dream pop band, Moving Panoramas.

Sandy Carson is a photographer & cinematographer. His photography and film practice is a balance of commercial, editorial reportage, short and long-form personal projects

Art 51 from Hooper’s website documenting his process

Hooper is a tattoo artist and makes art in all manner of media, he is a devoted husband, father, former BMX pro rider, artist, music lover, and performer whose talent, passions, and energy seem to know no bounds.

Our conversation is sometimes interrupted by drops in our internet connection. We talk about their collaboration, friendship, hardcore, BMX, DIY culture, and community. 

Mr. Jerry from Sandy’s book Pretty Much. Mr Jerry is the subject of an upcoming film co-directed by Karen and Sandy

After our conversation, we will have a very cool sneak peek world premiere of SKLOSS’ new yet-to-be-released album. I am excited to pry a wee minute from this six-minute sprawler entitled Snorkels Ask from the stronghold that is the SKLOSS security team.

LINKS and REFERENCES

PORCH SWING ORCHESTRA
https://porchswingorchestra.org/

Tickets to VAST IS THE SEA https://withfriends.co/event/17182339/vast_is_the_sea

CO-LAB PROJECTS
https://www.co-labprojects.org/

SKLOSS
@sklossduo

KAREN SKLOSS
https://www.karenskloss.com/

SANDY CARSON
http://sandycarson.com/

THOMAS HOOPER
@thomas__hooper
https://thomashooperart.com/

VAST IS THE SEA is supported in part by grants from the @cityofaustinarts, @txcommarts, the @neaarts, @heb and Co-Lab Projects Members.

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Porch Swing Orchestra has been pairing on-site photographs with musical field recordings since 2018.