Goethe Lounge: Women's Labor

A family-friendly event, Women's Labor: Housework Commons is an interactive installation and performance that transforms domestic tools into musical instruments using machine learning and embedded sensor technologies. The artists - Jocelyn Ho, Sofy Yuditskaya and Margaret Anne Schedel - invite audiences to play custom-built musical instruments that are repurposed housework tools, to make interactive, collective music.

Housework Commons reimagines domestic labor—traditionally confined to the private sphere—as a public, communal creative act, challenging gender inequality in housework division. Housework Commons consists of three custom-built instruments: Embedded Iron, Rheostat Rotary Rack, and Embroidery Hoop. Ho, Schedel, and Yuditskaya are sound artists based in Australia, USA, and France.

Artists:
Jocelyn Ho
Sofy Yuditskaya
Margaret Anne Schedel

Contributors for the instruments:

• Embedded Iron, a 3D-printed antique iron with sensors trained with machine learning, by Jocelyn Ho, Margaret Schedel, Robert Cosgrove, Omkar Bhatt, Matthew Blessing, in consultation with Bronwen Ackermann and Mostafa Jamel.
• Rheostat Rotary Rack, a rotary drying rack with potentiometers and rotary encoder, by Jocelyn Ho, Margaret Schedel, Bryan Jacobs, and Melody Loveless.
• Embroidery Hoop, with an embroidered textile speaker, that acts as an electromagnetic scanner, by Sofy Yuditskaya, Jocelyn Ho, and Margaret Schedel.

Supported by: Harvestworks Digital Media Arts Center, The University of Sydney, Stony Brook University, University of California at Los Angeles.

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Goethe Lounge: A series of events at the Goethe-Institut in Sydney. Curated by our programming team and presented in collaboration with a range of Australian partner organisations. Live music, talks, and other events in a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere.

Accessibility note: This event will happen on the first floor, which is only accessible via a staircase. Unfortunately, our heritage building does not have an elevator. We apologise for the inconvenience; please get in touch if this is a concern or if you need assistance.

Photography note: By entering this event site you agree to being filmed or photographed as members of the audience. You may appear in photos or videos used for marketing or promotional purposes.

Parking: Street parking is available in the streets near the building. Please allow a few minutes to find a slot.

Acknowledgement: This event takes place on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. We pay our respects to the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather.