Susie Ibarra’s Floating Gardens are sonic sculptures and sonic habitats inspired by biodiversity on earth. The work is a reflection on the extraordinary statistic that approximately 2.5 percent of the earth’s land has intact biodiverse habitats that support more than half the world’s plant species and just under half of the bird, mammal, and reptiles species as endemics, not found anywhere else. Inspired by this, Floating Gardens are sounding sculptures that are light, have movement, and resonate gently, offering an entry into a sensory experience that connects with the habitats. The project is also inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh’s recent writing about Deep Ecology in which he states “True Love Heals.” Floating Gardens are reflections of nature’s beauty in visual sculpture and sonic transmission, and also serve with functions to support natural environments. In-residence at Wave Farm, Ibarra will research and develop the first edition of her Floating Gardens: a Tamayuk Philippine conch shell made of gong metals. Beneath the flowing sound sculpture, sensors will measure plant behavior and emissions in Wave Farm’s second pond, which will be transmitted to the percussive elements of the sculpture. Above the water's surface, using SDR (software-defined radio), the sculpture will receive signals live from the Philippines further activating the Tamayuk sonically.

Susie Ibarra is a Filipinx composer, percussionist, and sound artist. Her interdisciplinary practice spans formats, including performance, mobile sound-mapping applications, installations, recording, and documentary. She is the founder of Susie Ibarra Studio and Sound,Health Habitat, a cultural studio and journal that focuses on sharing and supporting listening health practices, global soundwalks, acoustic ecology focused on climate and eco-friendly and sustainable global music practices. She created Drum Labs: Rhythm in Nature, a course and book through her studio that demonstrates her six part analysis of rhythms in nature. Ibarra is passionate about supporting fresh water sources, and cultural and environmental preservation for next generations.