How Experimental Composers Influenced a New Generation of Artists

**Echoes Across Time: “World of Echo” Exhibition Reimagines the Legacy of Julius Eastman and Arthur Russell**

At REDCAT CalArts Theater in Los Angeles, a haunting reverberation of voices, melodies, and memories fills the gallery space in the remarkable exhibition *World of Echo: Julius Eastman and Arthur Russell*. This multimedia presentation crafts a deeply immersive homage to two avant-garde musicians whose innovative spirits reshaped experimental music but whose lives were tragically cut short by AIDS-related complications in the early 1990s.

Curated by Katy Dammers alongside Elizabeth Cline, Talia Heiman, Mark McNeill, Christopher Rountree, and Julia Ward, and presented in collaboration with LA Phil Insight and Wild Up, *World of Echo* offers visitors not merely an overview of Eastman and Russell’s works but a profound meditation on their enduring, intertwined legacies.

### A Dialogue Between Friends Across Decades

At the heart of the exhibition is a 10-channel video and sound installation that acts as an anchor for the surrounding materials. This centerpiece features rare recordings and performances, such as Russell and Phill Niblock’s *Terrace of Unintelligibility* (1985) and the 1981 staging of Eastman’s *The Holy Presence of Joan d’Arc* at The Kitchen—a nexus for avant-garde artists that remains active today.

In these archival fragments, the echoes between Russell and Eastman emerge clearly. Russell’s nearly indecipherable, repetitive vocals in *Terrace of Unintelligibility* seem to mirror the haunting refrain of “he says” and “she says” that punctuates Eastman’s *Joan d’Arc*—both artists disassembling language and meaning into pure sonic emotion.

By juxtaposing these pieces, the curators highlight how even when not actively collaborating, Eastman and Russell’s creative languages existed in close, productive dialogue.

### Artistry Built on Fragile Foundations

Although Eastman and Russell projected a fierce independence in their musical identities, *World of Echo* reveals how deeply their careers relied on intricate and often precarious networks of support. A particularly poignant example is Eastman’s 1978 conducting of Russell’s *Instrumentals* at The Kitchen, performed by the Orchestra of New York. This opportunity was made possible through the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA), a federal program that temporarily provided living wages for artists—a rare governmental acknowledgment of their societal value.

The repeal of CETA in 1982, coupled with society’s broader indifference toward queer and marginalized artists, contributed significantly to Eastman’s later struggles with homelessness and addiction. Knowing these tragic outcomes adds a layer of fragility to the buoyant sounds of *Instrumentals*, as lively percussion and exuberant horns seem almost to preempt their own inevitable quieting.

### Resonances Far Beyond the 1980s

The exhibition extends far beyond Eastman and Russell’s lifetimes, illustrating how their innovations continue to inspire new generations of artists. A luminous painting by Devendra Banhart titled *Vis* (2025), a tender video work by Justen Leroy, and a tribute composition by Julia Holter are among the many contemporary pieces on display. Each offers modern reinterpretations and extensions of Eastman and Russell’s radical ethos, blending personal affection with experimental daring.

In these reflections, *World of Echo* underscores the profound and sometimes invisible ways Eastman and Russell shaped the sonic and cultural landscapes that followed them. Their legacy, built from ephemeral sounds and fragile social networks, now finds sturdier footing in the hearts and works of artists today.

### Echoes That Refuse to Fade

*World of Echo* is not just an exhibition; it’s an act of remembrance, reverence, and re-imagining. It honors two visionary musicians who insisted on the beauty and necessity of boldness even when systems around them faltered. Their work—reflective, complex, resilient—continues to generate ripples across the arts, challenging and inspiring artists and audiences alike.

In Eastman’s immortal words: “Speak boldly.” This exhibition ensures that both his and Russell’s voices continue to speak—and sing—across time.

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*World of Echo: Julius Eastman and Arthur Russell* is on view at the REDCAT CalArts Theater (631 West 2nd Street, Los Angeles, California) through May 4, 2025.