Villa Aurora X Lookout FM Radio - Episode 3 of "if the house could speak"
In January of 2025 the Palisades Fire came within feet of Villa Aurora. Miraculously, the house survived, and with it the radio transmitter that broadcasts from there throughout the Santa Monica Mountains and the beaches below.
This series explores the voices, past and present, that reverberate at Lion and Marta Feuchtwanger’s former home. For the past 30 years, Villa Aurora has been an artist residence, a place where exile and expression meet, where history and contemporary events converge.
During the process of rebuilding and awaiting our artists’ return, we will be broadcasting newly produced, archival and historical footage for you to listen to and maybe wonder: Is this really only a house or, like Carl Jung suggests, can the composition of a room induce the realization of new truths?
Each episode of if the house could speak will be broadcast on a loop for 24 hours with no interruption starting at 12 PM Pacific Daylight Time. For our listeners across the world, that corresponds to 7 PM Coordinated Universal Time and 9 PM Middle European Time.
Episode 3
Part 1 - POLITUNES
This episode starts with a piece by Sergey Khismatov, a composer and multimedia artist whose works are presented at concert halls, art exhibitions and film festivals worldwide.
His multi-focused media work explores the spatial distribution of sound.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, he invented a new audio-visual format called Video Ensemble. This innovative medium intertwines spatial sound distribution with visual elements, creating intricate, mosaic-like structures.
In 2023, while a fellow at Villa Aurora, Sergey worked on the Video Ensemble composition POLITUNES.
In Khismatov’s words:
POLITUNES is a project about dictators and populists who keep singing the same tunes over and over again.
More than 100 political figures took part — unwillingly but truthfully.
All the sounds in this video come directly from the politicians you see on screen.
Only unprocessed sounds and videos were used.
Though we obviously feel the audio of this piece stands on its own, you are encouraged to watch the video online.
Part 2 - Feuchtwanger Refreshed
Sergey Khismatov's work will be followed by the second part of our latest Feuchtwanger Refreshed edition. Feuchtwanger Refreshed is an ongoing collaboration between USC's School of Dramatic Arts MFA Dramatic Writing Program, USC Libraries, and Villa Aurora. Graduate playwrights and their instructors present short scenes inspired by archival holdings and writings from USC's Feuchtwanger Memorial Library.
In this episode we hear three pieces performed earlier this year at The Wende Museum as part of “The Fires Last Time”. Written and performed by student playwrights of the MFA Dramatic Writing Program at USC, these three excerpts take different perspectives on what it means to be home, and the way in which that definition can create a sanctuary for people in exile.
• Field Trip by Alessandra Viegas
• The Comics Section by Jason Grasl
• The Whole Palisades is Lost by Moriyah Dichter
In cooperation with
LOOKOUT FM is a West Coast terrestrial radio home for the broadcast of "transmission art:" experimental audio composition, modern serials, data sonification, radio plays, multi-day compositions, and radio-centric performances. Their licensed stations in Burbank, Hollywood, and Pacific Palisades function as FM exhibition spaces where radio art is presented without regard to constraints of time, structure, or commercial consideration.
