Friday the 20th of August 1999. 7.30.-8.30 pm.
The Changing Room, Stirling.

As part of the show Modelcitizen, a new bioacoustic work was presented, commissioned by the gallery and based on recent research and exploration of the potential for plantlife to provide basic binary information for translation into sound data.


Part 1
SHOW/DOWN, an electro acoustic contest between The Jacobite Rose and The Duke of Cumberland Rose featured two ancient and historically significant rose varieties each with a distinct character and bloom acoustically battling it out by responding to measuring equipement that symultaniously calibrates and translates each plants electrical activity into sound data for playback. Each plant was then afforded the oppertunity to respond to each other "signiture calls " through instructions provided by your referee and mediator for that evening, Calum Stirling .The performance set out to reach a point of sonic reconsiliation in which harmony ~rhythm~melody collide at some point during the performance.

Part 2
The second part ot this work involves the grafting together of the two rose types with the assistance of the British Rosarian Society in order to develope, and register a new rose hybrid called Alba Nova for transplant new year into the municipal rosebeds of Stirling.


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Rose background info .
Alba roses are the result of a cross between Damask roses and the Dog Rose (Rosa canine). Grown during the Middle Ages, Alba roses were brought to England by the Romans. As a group, these roses are hardy shrubs with exceptional form in habit and flower. Though not many different Albas are offered commercially, do plant one or several, for Albas are tough plants which thrive with less than ideal conditions (even being somewhat shade tolerant). Flowers tend to be white or some variation thereof, whether it be cream or light pink. The flowers have a delicate appearance, which sit well on a durable, tough plant. Disease resistance is generally excellent, as is cold hardiness.