Joe Rauen is an artist and musician who creates one-of-a-kind musical instruments from unlikely objects. His work incorporates the use of things lost, found, or repurposed. His creations include instruments such as bass clarinets made from household plumbing, a tennis racquet banjo, a salad-bowl sitar, and a playable kitchen sink. His live performances consist of Rauen playing numerous instruments in combination, beatboxing, improvisation, and humor.
Rauen's unique creations have been featured on WGN Morning News and Lakeshore Public Media's Eye on The Arts. The performance at the Art Barn will feature a dozen of Rauen's instruments as well as his newest creation. With funding from the Indiana Arts Commission, Rauen has built a massive, 7-foot-tall, 150 lb instrument with 23 strings. This performance is the culmination of a year-long Individual Advancement Project Grant Project. The concert will feature all original music and pieces composed specially for the new instrument.
MORE ABOUT JOE: Rauen received a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance from the Berklee College of Music.
His appearances include: The WGN Morning News, A year-long residency at the Ace Hotel (Chicago), Fulton Market Kitchen (Chicago), Cafe Mustache (Chicago), Eye on the Arts, Art on the Air, Opening Reception For Things Go Bump In The Night (South Shore Arts), Gary Love Fest, Art Blitz, A solo art exhibit at Union Street Gallery.
In the summer of 2019 Rauen was awarded an Individual Advancement Program grant by the Indiana Arts Commission. His proposal to build a massive, colorful, sculptural musical instrument will culminate with a performance at the Art Barn. The instrument is called the Asteroidea. It stands over six feet tall, weighs 120 pounds, and has 21 strings. Some of the inspiration for this instrument comes from the instruments of Indian Classical Music. Rauen will perform the Asteroidea solo and in combination with his other creations, discuss the process of making the instrument, and take questions from the audience.
View a recent video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sI7VtLJin8&authuser=0
Safety precautions include face coverings and socially distanced seating . Screening will take place at admission. Any questions about our safety measures may be viewed at at https://www.artbarnschool.org/covid-19-update.
ABOUT ART BARN SCHOOL OF ART
Art Barn School of Art is dedicated to fostering a love of art in its unique 69-acre environment in Porter County, IN. The Art Barn offers a full range of art education classes for children and adults and is a venue for performing arts and weddings. In the Spring, the Art Barn walls fill floor to ceiling for the annual juried art exhibition (with a 27-year history). In September, Art Barn hosts it's annual Art Blitz which engages all ages in art-making and demonstrations, and this year will be streamed live.
Art Barn School of Art, 695 N 400 E, Valparaiso, IN 46383-9723