David Hurlin

You are here

Image of David Hurlin
Graduate Student

Academic Areas

Research Interests

Sculpture

David Hurlin received his BFA in photography and tabla (hand drums of the Hindustani classical music tradition) and his MA in studio art from Maharishi International University (MIU), including time abroad in India studying with tabla master Anup Ghosh. His photography took him around the United States photographing his favorite poets (James Tate, Charles Wright, Cole Swenson and others) which informed his own writing.  His first book of poems Zero Gravity Funk Libido was released in 2019 by Blue Light Press in San Francisco. In addition to writing, Hurlin has extensive experience as a drummer and percussionist playing for Apocalypso Tantric Noise Choir, Soulmath, Annalibera, Dana T, Elizabeth Moen and most recently with Mike Dillon Band and Nolatet. 

Currently he is working at the intersection of sound art, sculpture, installation and performance, pursuing instrument building, movement and sound-based performances, and the construction of sculptural sonic networks, vehicles, chime clouds, wearables, non-traditional music scores and collaborations that investigate the exploration of tuning and objecthood, allowing for a wild freedom of rhythmic expression that smashes conventional time keeping and grid-based thinking, to partially outsource musical authorship to chance and elements beyond control, interfacing with fluctuating parameters in real time improvisation to broaden the scope of materials and expression into what John Cage calls the “all sounds music of the future.” 

Recent works include performances at Joey Fauerso's exhibition, Inside the Spider's Body, at Bemis Center in Omaha, Sound is a Body Held, a sound and movement collaboration with Tony Orrico at Signs & Symbols Gallery in New York City, as a percussionist in the Nakatani Gong Orchestra at the Englert Theater in Iowa City, in addition to local performances at Hancher, PS1, Feed Me Weird Things Iowa City at Trumpet Blossom, Gabe's, Parking Spaces Project, Climate Fest, Sculpture & Intermedia Open House and the Visual Arts Building in Iowa City.  

Hurlin lives in Iowa City with his family and is an MFA candidate in Sculpture & Intermedia at the University of Iowa.

https://www.instagram.com/davidhurlin/
https://www.youtube.com/onehandclaps
https://soundcloud.com/onehandclaps
https://twitter.com/davidhurlin

Selected Works

A disassembled piano is utilized for the resonant sounding board to construct a percussion tower of found objects, recycled lumb
A disassembled piano is utilized for the resonant sounding board to construct a percussion tower of found objects, recycled lumb
A disassembled piano is utilized for the resonant sounding board to construct a percussion tower of found objects, recycled lumb
A vintage lawn mower and ironing board are poorly grafted together using paracord, bungee cords, lumber and welding, to create a
All 88 piano keys were removed and used to create a chime-like vehicle. The title is in reference to John Cage's Prepared Piano
A previous sculpture "Milk Crate Chime" was retrofitted with a rocking pedestal to activate the sonic elements. ​
Sonic sculpture activated by movement and wind​
Performance utilizing sound sculptures made for Dance Gala and my studio practice. It was based on one highly simplified week of
Collaboration with choreographer Tony Orrico. I provided sound design, movement, mobile orchestra pit within scaffolding with mo