Sound Circles: An Evening in the Round
April 22, 2025 | 8-10 PM | Human Resources
Tickets: $20 (Tickets required, no RSVP)
Central Server Works is proud to curate an evening of performance for Coaxial Arts Foundation’s 10-Year Anniversary Festival. Join us for a night of sonic exploration and interdisciplinary performance featuring a stellar lineup of artists in a unique round-table format.
Sound Circles brings together an eclectic range of musicians and performers, where the audience will be seated in the round, creating an intimate space for connection, contemplation, and sound. With performances by:
The Album Leaf – The prolific artist Jimmy LaValle has been creating meditative and atmospheric music since 1999. Known for his unique blend of electronic and organic soundscapes, LaValle’s live set will transport audiences into new realms of sonic exploration.
Emma Palm and Marc Merza (Duo) – A collaboration between Emma Palm, a Taiwanese-American multimedia artist whose work blends synthesizers, field recordings, guqin, and vocals, and Marc Merza, a Filipino-American artist whose compositions merge guitar, clarinet, and Kulintang with experimental sounds. Together, they will create a sonic journey that touches on themes of identity, environment, and memory.
Lenard Smith (L'ODYSSEY IN DUB) – A first-generation Ghanaian-American artist, educator, and roots reggae / dub sound system selector, Featuring classic and rare selections of late 70's roots reggae, dub, early 80's dancehall style, and rare UK Sound System music that will guide the space between live sets. His work is included in the permanent collections of The Wallis Annenberg Photography Department at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), The Whitney and Lee Kaplan African American Visual Culture Collection at the Getty Research Institute, and Light Work (Syracuse, NY), among others. Smith is a 2024 MacDowell Fellow.
Joshua Oduga (DJ) – As a DJ and co-curator of this event, Joshua will offer his own set, bringing a blend of ambient, experimental, and rhythm-based sound to the evening’s soundtrack.
The in the round concept originates from a series of intimate performances and listening sessions that took place at the original location of Central Server Works in the Pico-Robertson area of Los Angeles. The gallery’s founders transformed their converted music studio space into a dynamic site for experimental, communal art experiences. Since expanding into commercial spaces, Central Server Works has sought to bring these unique events back in a format that connects with a larger audience, allowing for deeper engagement and expanding ideas around performance and collaboration. The round-table arrangement reflects the gallery’s commitment to creating immersive, participatory experiences and reinforcing the spirit of collaboration that defines its programming.
This evening of performance reflects the ethos and legacy of Coaxial Arts Foundation, a space known for its commitment to experimental media, sound, and performance art. Coaxial has always sought to support boundary-pushing work that exists at the intersection of art and culture, fostering collaborations that challenge traditional forms of audience engagement. The “in the round” format, immersive performances, and experimental nature of this event are deeply aligned with Coaxial’s ongoing commitment to alternative modes of artistic expression and community-building.
Inspired by Fluxus principles of collaboration, experimentation, and audience participation, the "in the round" format allows for an immersive, participatory experience, blurring the lines between performers and viewers in a true celebration of sound as a living, breathing art form.
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Mask wearing is highly recommended indoors. N/95, KN/95, surgical masks suggested and provided.
