with Erik Griswold and Vanessa Tomlinson (Clocked Out Duo)

sanctuary x mill is an immersive multichannel surround sound work that connects the instruments and soundscapes of two ruined piano sanctuaries – The Murray Bridge Piano Sanctuary at Murray Bridge, South Australia, and the Piano Mill at Harrigan’s Lane, Willson’s Downfall, NSW.

Bringing together improvisatory recordings made by Jesse Budel at the Murray Bridge Piano Sanctuary, and Vanessa Tomlinson and Erik Griswold at The Piano Mill (as part of a larger international project, Weathered Piano Exchange), sanctuary x mill is a series of four conversations, both between the pianos of the two iconic sites (sharing grooves, rhythms and textures), and between the pianos and their local soundscapes (the birds, trees and weather chorusing in time with the piano tunes).

This piece was developed as part of Jesse’s April 2024 artist residency in the inaugural Harrigan’s Lane Artist-In-Residence program, on site at Willson’s Downfall, NSW, and premiered on Friday 19 2024.