Still able

Abstract

In a world where most students are habitually connected to headphones, one student is harnessing power outside the sense of hearing to unite acoustics and craft into particular listening environments. Trent Still is a student, a craftsman, an avid fan of acoustics, and to my surprise legally deaf in one ear. What initially could be viewed as a hindrance within the study of acoustics, has developed into an avenue of expressive talent and determination. As a student of architectural design, Still focuses on materials, connections, and overall aesthetics of the listening environment. For example: in a recent gallery exhibit of handcrafted furniture, one of Trent’s entries was a pair of handmade loudspeaker enclosures that were French cleated to the wall. They were not merely wall mounted; they were wall dependent. The wall cavity between framing members and the wall finish was part of the installation; thereby actively integrating acoustics into architecture. This paper does not focus solely on one student; it is about unequivocal enthusiasm for acoustical craft within inhabitable space. No matter what seems like a disadvantage or disability, students and educators can work together to ascertain visual and auditory beauty. Sight and sound are uniquely codependent.