Dr. Clark Lunberry developed a poetry installation project for the library with students from his Senior Seminar (LIT 4934) as a follow up to April 2007's “Water on Water” poem/installation. The project was on display in February with two planned components, a pond installation, and a "Murmur" projection event; both included sound dimensions.

For the pond installation, brief poems were installed on the pond in front of the library, using plastic, twine, and clothes pins. The first week, the piece read: “MURMUR OF WORDS.” Then, for the final week, it changed to “MURMUR OF WOUNDS.” Simultaneously, in the stairwell of the library, there was an accompanying sound collage composed of 25 randomly chosen library readers, their voices mingling into a murmur, filling the entire stairwell. The other component of this project, the slideshow event, was projected during several evenings on the back wall of the library adjacent to the Green. This slideshow transitioned through eight different, but related phrases, including among them: “inside the murmur of words,” “incite the memory of wounds” and “inside the murmur of wounds.”

Dr. Lunberry received support from CIRT at several points in the project's development and implementation. When planning the sound collage, he consulted with CIRT staff member David Wilson to identify a process for capturing and mixing the voices of the library readers. CIRT provided voice recorders for capturing the readings and Wilson taught Dr. Lunberry how to use Apple's Garage Band software to mix and edit the piece and produce to CD. CIRT also provided consultation on equipment needs and checked out several pieces to support the project. Finally, CIRT assisted in the creation of a slideshow of the pond project; see the link below to view.

Slideshow of images and sounds from "Murmur of Words."