Weidenhammer's Sonic Therapy Spa by Lori Weidenhammer, © 2009. Instruments by Peter Courtemanche

This work is a solar-powered mobile sonic therapy spa. The artist invites passersby to relax in a lawn chair and absorb sonic medication activated by biofeedback devices connected to the listener, the surrounding plants, and nearby beehives. The piece is inspired by science and pseudo-science from the late 1800s and early 1900s. It examines a place in between rigorous "scientific method" and "popular science". The spa treats participants to a dynamic tone chord that is infiltrated by the sound of honeybees.

Lori Weidenhammer is an interdisciplinary artist from Cactus Lake, Saskatchewan. Now living and working in Vancouver, much of her recent work (as the persona of Madame Beespeaker) deals with the science and culture of bees. Her works in performance, video, sound, installation, and the web have been seen across Canada and in Austria and Germany. Her recent work, "The Laughing Dress" (a collaboration with Peter Courtemanche, 2008), premiered at Platform Gallery in Winnipeg as part of Video Pool's 25th Anniversary.

Lori Weidenhammer beside the spa lounge chair. The sound of bees mixed with tones generated from currents in the earth is emitted from the two ukeleles.

Listeners.

Peter Courtemanche relaxing in the spa.

Matt Smith chilling out.

The honey bees at VanDusen Garden.

Honey bees at MOP (Means of Production) Garden, September 13, 2009. The nails in the board are there to keep away the raccoons.

The view from MOP.

The sound of bees at the entrance to the hive is mixed with tones generated from currents in the earth. Metal probes go into the ground behind the lawn chair. These are connected to solar-powered audio processors that send sound into two ukeleles mounted on the arms of the chair.