1967
An article titled "New Design, U.S.A." by Barbara Plumb appeared in The New York Timeson April 23, 1967, and included Max Neuhaus. The article documented a number of contemporary American design projects, and Neuhaus was included for his pioneering sound installations. This marked a key moment in his transition from a concert-hall percussionist to a sound installation artist, whose work expanded beyond music to include design and environmental art.
Max Neuhaus's 1967 sound installations
In 1967, Neuhaus developed his first site-specific sound installation, Drive-In Music, which was created for the Albright-Knox Gallery in Buffalo, New York. The installation consisted of a series of low-power radio transmitters along a half-mile stretch of Lincoln Parkway, which allowed drivers to experience a unique "aural topography" as they passed through.
The significance of the New York Times article
- Plumb's article showcased Neuhaus's work alongside more traditional forms of design, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of his practice.
- It also marked a significant moment in the public's reception of Neuhaus's work, which moved away from the object-oriented nature of traditional art and focused on the temporal and spatial qualities of sound itself.