no.259 | Cottonwood Wind Shimmer, Austin, TX June 17, 2026
It was a lovely, though windy, day. This is right behind Zach theater next to the hike and bike trail that traces Lady Bird Lake. The shape of the leaves of Cottonwood creates an interesting audio shimmering of the wind.
I made images of the tree, which online are combined in real time and accrue density, layer by layer in randomized ways cued to the timing of the music. Each play-through begins with a new base image and transforms anew. The piece will also loop on its own.
The audio is an improvisation with a repeating gesture that builds and diminishes in conversation with the birds and the breezes.
I made images of the tree, which online are combined in real time and accrue density, layer by layer in randomized ways cued to the timing of the music. Each play-through begins with a new base image and transforms anew. The piece will also loop on its own.
The audio is an improvisation with a repeating gesture that builds and diminishes in conversation with the birds and the breezes.
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LETS'S MAKE SOMETHING TOGETHER
I love to collaborate, remotely or in person, but if you have a piece you would like to feature on PSO (without contributions by me), by all means, please reach out!Email us at info(at)porchswingorchestra.org
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ABOUT PSO — THE WEB PROJECT
Porch Swing Orchestra is an art project begun on the web by Barry Stone that explores the interplay between still images, sound, and place.Photographs and musical improvisations build a framework for deep listening and visual contemplation. Barry Stone plays acoustic guitar with a Fahey-inspired picking style mixed in with electronic effects, like My Bloody Valentine for a campfire. The sounds of the outside—bird calls, stray conversations, passing cars—become part of the music.
Stone scrambles the code and layers images taken on-site to channel chance operations into new imaginaries.
Most PSO pieces are made on Stone's front porch in Austin, Texas, but PSO has traveled to Spiral Jetty in Utah, the border town of Del Rio, Texas, Maine, and the San Juan Islands.
Each piece consists of a paired image and audio recording taken on site, uploaded to a standalone fullscreen homepage. Each piece is displaced by new pairs of audio and image. Past pieces can be accessed and streamed randomly via the PSO RADIO page.
Since 2018, PSO has collaborated with dozens of musicians, artists, poets, writers, and activists to publish over 240 unique combinations of images and sounds.
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PSO PERFORMANCE
PSO performs live in unconventional venues such as Shield Ranch and the James Turrell Skyspace, The Color Inside, as a part of The University of Texas Landmarks Songs in the Skyspace Program. PSO was commissioned to create a unique set of visuals and audio compositions for the Texas Historical Commission for the Sounds of Liberty Hill Event Series at the French Legation in Austin, Texas.Original projected imagery accompanies an immersive audio experience which can comprise field recordings, acoustic guitars, e-bow, synths, piano, and singing. PSO plays solo and often with others such as Bill McCullough, Leslie Moody Castro, and longtime collaborator Paul Stautinger.
PSO also curated a series of live events, VAST IS THE SEA, at Co-Lab Projects in Austin, in which 8 artists presented works combining images and sound over four weekends.
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PSO EXHIBITS
PSO has been the subject of many gallery presentations. PSO has exhibited in solo shows at Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery in New York, ICOSA in Austin as a Soundscape artist, and the Galveston Arts Center.︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿
PSO RELEASES
PSO has released two full length lathe cut vinyl records, a full length CD, a split virtual seven inch EP with The Reformers, and two Cassette EPs.Releases can be purchased on BANDCAMP or at BARRYSTONE.COM
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To experience selected past pieces, listen to the PSO RADIO, or stream us on TIDAL in the links below.
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ALL NEW PSO RADIO
Listen and view a stream of randomly selected past PSO pieces rendered in fullscreen glory!
Exclusively here at PSO HQ.
Click on the PSO RADIO Icon to Start the Stream
Exclusively here at PSO HQ.
Click on the PSO RADIO Icon to Start the Stream
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Orchestra Players:
Gregory Brooks, Bob Warner, Emily Scarlet Kramer, Rainey Knudson, Ryan Lauderdale, Tamara Gonzales, Katy Chrisler, Gibson + Recoder, Paul Stautinger, Sarah Hennies, Eric Zimmerman, Matt Bauer, Sandy Carson, Ryan Rhodes, Rebecca Marino, Shannon Spurgeon, Aaron Winslow, Ivy Stone, Mark Menjivar, Gavin Watts, Ryan Sprott, Brad Tucker, Caleb Churchill, John Hunt, Audra Wolowiec, Lauren Grant, Bill McCullough, Henry Smith, Anthony Francis, Xavier Gilmore, Ana Treviño, Ariana Gomez, Jessica Mallios, Thomas Hooper, SKLOSS, The Reformers, Zuriel Waters, Joe Williams, Jason Reed, Adam Henry, Saumon Oboudiyat, Hannah Spector, Leslie Moody Castro, Lauren Klotzman, Joey Fauerso, Jessica Mallios, Pete Stiles
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