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ZANETA

@soundartmagic

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Filipinx sound artist, nature recordist, and medium
🌲Communing with local wilderness through sound

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625+ acres of high quality forest in upstate New York’s Catskill Mountains are at risk of being destroyed for an exclusive luxury subdivision proposed by out of town developers and funded by private investors.

Local artists, Zoe Keller and Zaneta Sykes, are using their art to fight back and preserve this unique and important ecosystem. 🌲

This Friday 9/25 there will be a free community event titled “Celebration of Zena: An Immersive Forest Experience” at the historic @maverickconcerts in Woodstock where @soundartmagic will premiere their new album (which as of today is officially available for purchase online!) alongside original wildlife illustrations of the Zena Woods by @zoekellerart . There will also be a conversation hosted by Miranda Javid of @woodstock_land_conservancy 💚

If you’re local and can make it, RSVP (for free) at the link in my bio 🤓 There’s also a link in my bio to buy Zaneta’s album which is a gorgeous vinyl with the cover incorporating Zoe’s stunning art. I personally cannot wait to buy and display my own copy! 😍

Many of my childhood memories take place in the Catskills and it remains a very special place for me as an adult. I have spent time in the wildlife sanctuary protected by @woodstock_land_conservancy that borders the parcel owned by developers where this subdivision would be built, and it is truly a special place that cannot be described in words. It would be heartbreaking to see this forest and wildlife corridor destroyed for a luxury subdivision that wouldn’t even help alleviate the affordable housing shortage in the area (like the developers claim it would..) The developers themselves have said that the *minimum* price for one of these homes would be $1 million.

I have hope that with enough pushback from the local community and beyond, this project will not move forward and this beautiful forest ecosystem will be preserved for future generations.

Learn more and get involved by following @stopzenadev or go to stopzenadevelopment.org 🌲 taken in Catskill Mountains by @soundartmagic

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8 days ago

The album is now available!

Invitations from the Land: the Zena Highwoods is a double-vinyl gatefold album featuring a year of forest soundscapes and nature illustrations from the Zena Highwoods in the Eastern Catskills.

Created in partnership with the Woodstock Land Conservancy, this album features a year of forest recordings made on the winter solstice, spring equinox, summer solstice, and autumn equinox from December 21, 2024 through September 23, 2025. Almost one year ago today!

During this same time period, nature illustrator Zoe Keller separately documented over 270 species of flora and fauna in the Zena Highwoods in her project Biodiversity of Zena Woods.

This album brings together these two projects, immersing the listener in the full spectrum of biodiversity across the seasons in the Zena Highwoods.

The cover features the wildlife most heard on this album such as the Barred Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, Spring Peeper, Bald Eagle, Red-Shouldered Hawk, and Black Bear.

Included with the vinyl is a digital download of the album.

I’m so grateful to my friends @zoekellerart and @mirandajavid who made this project possible and cultivated their own deep relationships with the Zena Highwoods.

Love to my amazing partner @dingmanvibes, who helped mix and produce this album. And so much awe and gratitude to the incredible @portcity for mastering and to the brilliant @benedict.kupstas for designing this album.

Big thank you to @woodstock_land_conservancy @stopzenadev for protecting Zena.

You can learn more on my website and purchase a copy using this link above.

Also join us for the live premiere on Friday Sept 25, 2026 at the Maverick Concert Hall. Albums and posters will be available for purchase and signing. by @soundartmagic

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8 days ago

One of the most special events we've ever hosted at WLC! We invite you to join us for Celebration of Zena: An Immersive Forest Experience, an evening of art honoring the specific ecology of the Zena Highwoods, happening on September 25 at 7 pm (doors at 6:30) at the historic Maverick Concert Hall. The event includes the world premiere of "Invitations from the Land: the Zena Highwoods," an album of field recordings and eco-rituals by sound artist Zaneta Sykes, created from seasonal field recordings gathered at Israel Wittman Sanctuary. These sounds will pair with original wildlife illustrations by artist Zoe Keller from her project, "Biodiversity of the Zena Woods". The evening will also feature a conversation between Zoe and Zaneta, moderated by WLC's Miranda Javid. This discussion will explore the role of community science and the ways art can deepen our relationship with the natural world. Attendees will be invited to leave an optional message to the forest in the form of an altar.

We at WLC couldn't be more honored to present this work at historic Maverick Concerts, whose wood building with its gambrel roof (and stunning horse sculpture) was built by hand as part of the Maverick Colony in 1916 by the utopian writer and philosopher Hervey White. WLC also protects the seven acres that surround the concert hall with a Conservation Easement. Like the incredible woodlands and streams of this region, we feel that Maverick and the hall are one of Woodstock's most precious gems.

This event is free and open to everyone. We hope you'll join us for this special evening. RSVP through the link in our bio.

Poster is by Rock Oak Preserve land steward, @benedict.kupstas
Projections by Sloan Gorge land steward, @bronwynmaloney
Sounds by @soundartmagic
Visual Art by @zoekellerart
Beautiful space and scenery by @maverickconcerts curated by @mirandajavid taken in Maverick Concerts by @soundartmagic

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a month ago

Join me next Friday Oct 9th at my favorite record shop @mainstreetbeat for an album listening party!

We’ll listen to the entire album, talk about the forest and how the project was created, and eat some sweet treats! Albums will also be available.

No RSVP needed and are friends welcome.
We start at 5:30pm

Can’t wait to celebrate with you all! 🦉🧡🍁 by @soundartmagic

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This week on Nature Nuggets, Laurel Sutherlin is joined by sound artist Zaneta Sykes and Woodstock Land Conservancy Program Director Miranda Javid for a conversation about listening to the land. Together they explore how sound, art, and conservation can deepen our relationship with the forests of the Hudson Valley, and discuss their collaborative project Invitations from the Land, an immersive experience inspired by the Zena Highwoods. From birdsong and seasonal soundscapes to stewardship and community, this episode is an invitation to slow down, listen more closely, and discover what the forest has to say.

Album Page: https://www.soundartmagic.com/invitations-from-the-land
Celebration of Zena Event 9/25: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebration-of-zena-an-immersive-forest-experience-tickets-1992515084254?aff=oddtdtcreator @laurelmaccurdy @zoekellerart @stopzenadev @soundartmagic @woodstock_land_conservancy @mirandajavid @chicorynaturalist @radiokingstonny taken in Kingston, New York by @soundartmagic

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It’s Leaf Watch season here at THE JIFFY PODCAST, so in this week’s episode, I walk and talk with Zoe Keller (@zoekellerart) and Zaneta Sykes (@soundartmagic) about their work documenting the wildlife of the Zena Highwoods.

Their upcoming event at The Maverick Concert Hall is this Friday, where they’ll debut a new album of recordings by Zaneta of the sounds of the forest with Zoe’s intricate illustrations projected on the walls of the historic venue.

Listen to the full episode at the link in my bio or wherever you hear podcasts, and let me know if you think it’s a bear or Sasquatch that we hear.

UPDATE: Since producing this episode, a public hearing on Zena Development has been scheduled in the Town of Ulster, on Tuesday, October 13 at 7 p.m. at the Town of Ulster Town Hall at 1 Town Hall Road in Lake Katrine, N.Y. Zoe says all are welcome and encouraged to attend and comment. by @soundartmagic

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9 days ago

One of my favorite parts of Friday’s eco-ritual performance is the Altar of Aliveness, which features art and plants all from the Zena Highwoods.

Artist Courtney Dudley created the altar cloth from plants and fungi foraged in Zena, an area that she resides and creates in. @courtneydudleyart

Ceramicist Ben Suga donated ceramic vessels for our installation that were crafted in Zena, and informed by his 12 years of living and working in that deep land. @sugapottery

Gardener Lorien McCabe and the Spiral House Park team are donating plants to adorn the altar, sourced from just up the road from Zena. @spiralhousepark @meadowrue76

Audience members will be invited to connect with the Zena Highwoods and envision the future for this forest, writing dreams and blessings for this land, which I will later read aloud as I walk the perimeter of Zena. Encircling the land with our loving intentions.

Friday Sept 25 at 7pm, at Maverick Concert Hall link in bio to RSVP taken in Maverick Concerts by @soundartmagic

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10 days ago

Citizen Science Weekend: Microscopy & Field Recording

Spend the weekend exploring the Sawkill through two unique workshops!

Mapping the Sawkill: Citizen Science Microbial Cultivation Workshop
Saturday, September 12 | 1–3 PM
Mothership Gallery, Woodstock

Join Adam Zaretsky, Ph.D. for a hands-on microbial cultivation and video microscopy workshop. Explore the hidden world of the Sawkill and discover what microbes might reveal about the health of our watershed.

DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER - Mapping The Sawkill Sensory Workshop | The Many Voices of a River HAS BEEN RE - SCHEDULED
Sunday, November 8 | 11:30 AM–1 PM
45 Comeau Drive, Woodstock

Join interdisciplinary sound artist and nature recordist Zaneta for an immersive listening and field recording experience. Using hydrophones and portable recorders, we’ll tune into the many voices, rhythms, and movements of the Sawkill River.

From the microscopic to the sonic, come experience the watershed in new ways.

Both events are part of Mapping the Sawkill, culminating in an exhibition at @waamart from October 23–November 29.

@woodstock_land_conservancy
@soundartmagic
@andi_wallwhore
@macpaulmc

PLEASE RSVP in Bio

#MappingTheSawkill #CitizenScience #MicrobialWorld #ArtAndScience #SawkillStream taken in Woodstock, New York by @soundartmagic

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20 days ago

Spent the morning walking through a section of the Zena Highwoods with @zoekellerart and @soundartmagic to learn about how they're using their art to preserve this ecosystem.

They're also preparing for a free performance on 9/25 (7-9:30 p.m.) at Maverick Concerts: "Celebration of Zena: An Immersive Forest Experience."

It's coming soon to my podcast THE JIFFY, and you can subscribe at the link in my bio. taken in Saugerties, New York by @soundartmagic

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A Mapping The Sawkill sensory workshop:
Many Voices of the Sawkill | Field Recording September 13
● Comeau Property, 95 Comeau Drive, Woodstock, NY 12498
- meet in parking lot by the kiosk

Tune into the many voices of the Sawkill Creek through this immersive field recording workshop, led by Filipinx nature recordist Zaneta.

In this workshop, participants will listen to multiple perspectives of the Sawkill Creek, the subtle bends, dips, and fluctuations in flow, essentially tuning into the many voices of this beloved water body.

Participants will have the opportunity to listen with hydrophones and portable digital recorders, exploring different immersive field recording techniques and spatial listening.

Led by Filipinx interdisciplinary sound artist and nature recordist Zaneta, participants will also explore listening and field recording as a ritual of connection and reciprocity with local lands and waters, informed by the artist’s cultural traditions.

A limited number of digital recorders, headphones, and hydrophones will be available. Participants are highly encouraged to bring their own digital recorders and phones to practice field recording on their own devices.

(Continued in comments) by @soundartmagic

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