Gabriella Warnick Honors the de Jong Concert Hall with Immersive Art Installation
On November 11, BYU student artist Gabriella Warnick presented "Requiem for a Stage", an immersive audio installation in the de Jong Concert Hall, capturing the history and memories of the venue. Visitors walked through the space, experiencing archival recordings of past performances, rehearsals, and the inaugural hymn sung at the building’s 1965 dedication.
Warnick set up speakers throughout the hall, so as visitors moved, they heard different segments of audio. A reel-to-reel tape recorder on stage captured the live sounds of the installation itself, making the experience both auditory and participatory. “It was about layering sounds past and present that were once at home in the de Jong,” Warnick explained.
The project was deeply personal for Warnick, who spent much of her college career in the de Jong. When she heard about the planned demolition of the Harris Fine Arts Center, she felt a profound sadness, which led her to create this tribute. She carefully sifted through hours of recordings, gathering sounds that embodied the space's history, including everyday moments like walking up stairs, backstage conversations, and orchestra warm-ups.
Warnick, whose primary medium is audio, wanted the installation to reflect both polished performances and raw, unfinished moments. “I wanted to capture sounds that were mid-process,” she said.
Visitors, including BYU alumni Tip and Paul Boxwell, shared emotional responses to the exhibit, reflecting on their own memories of the venue. Many found the installation meditative, sitting or lying on the stage as the sounds enveloped them.
Warnick sees the project as a blend of her art, theatre, and music practices. With the Harris Fine Arts Center’s demolition scheduled for 2023, Warnick looks forward to seeing how the new building inspires future students. “I’ll have no memories at the new building, but students will be making their own,” she said.
