In 1980, Bill and Mary Buchen formed SonArc, a design firm specializing in interactive installations for childrens museums, galleries, and public sites throughout the US. Large-scale public works include: Sound Parks and Science Playgrounds for kids of all ages, Aeolian (wind) Harps and designs for urban and park environments. Their pursuits center on the study of environmental phenomena examined through its applications to science, architecture, ecology, and diverse world cultures. They have won numerous awards from the National Endowment from the Arts, Indo-American Fellowships from the Council for the International Exchange of Scholars, Creative Artists Fellowships from the New York State Council on the Arts in Architecture, Design and Music and research grants from the Graham Foundation. Bill & Mary Buchen have participated as members of numerous design teams including San FranciscoÕs new Light Rail Transit System and Hudson River Park in New York City, their experience with childrens playground and park design includes sculpture installations for the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix ( withArchitect Antoine Preddock), Clover Park in Santa Monica (with Landscape Architect Mark Rios), the Childrens Museum of Richmond (with Landscape Architect Ken Smith), PS 244 Sound Carnival and PS 23 Sound Playground in New York City among others, This experience has given them a broad range of skills working with architects, structural engineers, community members and government agencies. As designers they create architectural drawings and CAD models in the computer studio and can collaborate in the exchange of this information over the Internet, Modem or Fax

Credits:
These projects are supported in part by The National Endowment for the Arts (Design Arts), The Graham Foundation, Experimental Television Center, The New York City Percent for Art Program, the David Bermant Foundation: Color, Motion Light, The New York Foundation for the Arts and private contributors. Sonic Architecture is a not-for-profit organization and all contributions are tax exempt to the extent allowable by law.

P.S. 244
In association with the architectural firm, Montoya-Rodriquez and the landscape architecture firm, Abel, Bainnson and Butz, this project is scheduled for completion in the fall of 1996. It was commissioned by the New York City Board of Education, the NYC School Construction Authority and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art Program.

Sound Vessel
The participation of Bill and Mary Buchen at the Sound Sattra Festival was made possible in part through support from THE FUND FOR U.S. ARTISTS AT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS AND EXHIBITIONS, a public/private partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, the United States Information Agency, The Rockefeller Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts, with administrative support from Arts International.

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