Strings & Machines and a loose collective of visual artists are exploring landscapes around the Bay Area, looking for sites to place sonic and visual events, temporarily, in response to the colors, shape and sounds of the landscapes. These are studies, etudes, experiments, and are unfunded and unsponsored.

We are also very interested in mapping environments, using sound recordings to capture the essence of a landscape (whether taken over by urbanization or not!) and portray the interaction of elements in new spaces. Particularly, we are working on a portrait of Oakland's creek and watershed system. Hugh has also recorded in Guangzhou, Chengdu and Beijing PRC, both rural and urban settings, and up and down the Eastern seaboard as well as along the Hoosick, Housatonic and Hudson Rivers.