Imaginary Acoustic Visions: Selected Sound Sculptures by Bill Fontana

About this event

Grace Cathedral’s 2026 Artist in Residence is San Francisco artist Bill Fontana, internationally recognized for his pioneering experiments in sound. Since the late 1960s, he has consistently used sound as a sculptural medium to interact with and transform our perceptions of visual and architectural spaces. Applying his knowledge of composition, he draws out patterns of sound from natural and constructed worlds to create sound works that have the potential to conjure up visual imagery in the mind of the listener. Many of Fontana’s works create live listening networks that collect information from sources as diverse as the Bosporus River in Istanbul and its cisterns, the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, the Millennium Bridge in London, the Great Bell of the Vatican; the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, and the melting Dachstein Glacier in the Austrian Alps. This afternoon, as part of his residency, join us for a listening session of some of his favorite past works. Please note there is an admission fee for visitors. Those wishing to attend this free concert must register in advance to avoid paying the fee. Thank you for your understanding. For Grace Cathedral, Fontana has created the sound sculpture Resonance, featuring our silent bells and organ pipes. This is his first bell project in the United States and his first with organ pipes. viewing schedule Dates posted are for the next two weeks. Resonance runs through September 20. Event Details The main entrance is at the top of the steps, near the corner of Taylor and California Streets. The accessible entrance is on Taylor Street, to the left of the garage entrance. More About the Artist BILL FONTANA (b. 1947) In a career spanning 55 years, Bill Fontana has become internationally recognized for his pioneering experiments in sound. Since the late 1960s, he has consistently used sound as a sculptural medium to interact with and transform our perceptions of visual and architectural spaces. Applying his…