After the successful launch of our inaugural artist-and-residency program at the Doolan-Larson Residence last fall with Jeremy Fish, we are pleased to announce that a new artist is continuing the program this year. Soon to collaborate with San Francisco legacy business Joe Goode Performance Group on a special Heritage-supported piece called “Time of Change” (to debut in fall 2021), composer Ben Juodvalkis will create and install a multi-room audio documentary to support future public tours and events at the Residence.
Since 2007, Ben has composed for more than 50 organizations, ranging from avant-garde museum installations to corporate keynotes. Additionally, he has released five albums and toured extensively with his rock band Battlehooch. With a background in classical piano and percussion, his compositions are grounded in melody and rhythm. Listen to a sample of one of his pieces below:
At the Doolan-Larson Residence, Ben will combine interviews with original music. Spoken content will come from existing and newly-recorded interviews with counter-culture participants who have a personal connection with the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. The musical portion will be composed onsite and will respond to the unique qualities of selected rooms in the Residence, with each composition varying widely in composition and texture.
Of this opportunity, Ben said: “Thank you and everybody at Heritage for allowing me to make this project. I’ve been fascinated with the Haight-Ashbury counterculture ever since I was a little kid growing up in New England. It’s a dream to immerse myself in present-day and historical movements of peace, love, and psychedelia.”
We are excited to follow Ben’s creative journey, and we will continue to share updates throughout his residency. This program will further Heritage’s goals of making this special site a hub a creativity in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. By bringing historic sites like the Doolan-Larson Residence alive through art, we hope that this will help people interact with historic preservation in new and exciting ways.
