BRENDA RAY: WORLD VOICES PROJECT
A SOUND INSTALLATION OF NEARLY 50 VOICES FROM DIFFERENT
COUNTRIES FEATURING THE READING OF EXCERPTS OF THE DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

JULY 20-AUGUST 3, 2008, SOUTH STREET SEAPORT

New York, NY (July 1, 2008) From July 20 through August 3, 2008, nearly 50 different voices reading the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights may be heard in World Voices Project. An engaging and poetic sound installation created by artist Brenda Ray, this project is a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Human Rights. Held at The South Street Seaport, Pier 17, Third Floor Atrium, Fulton and South Streets, admission to the event is free and open to the public. Hours are: Weekdays 12-7pm, weekends 12-9pm. Opening reception: Sunday, July 20, 6-9pm. For more information, contact 212.477.0961 or log on to www.worldvoicesproject.com.

Brenda Ray began the World Voices Project two years ago, and the project continues to evolve. She has interviewed friends, colleagues and artists from different countries, covering nearly 50 nations and different languages. Among the many voice recordings are languages such as Tigrinya of Eritrea, Amharic of Ethiopia, Mongolian, Zulu and Shona of Zimbabwe.

Letting each voice speak for itself, Ray taped the readings with little treatment. At South Street Seaport, she has installed a jungle of hanging headphones, offering a pristine listening environment. Several headphones include multiple languages mixed together, transforming the recordings into a mosaic of sounds with the understanding that our common humanity transcends language barriers.