665 W Lancaster Blvd, Lancaster, CA 93534

Artist Elana Mann explores the power of the collective voice and the politics of listening through sculpture, sound, and community engagement. She is the granddaughter of a chemist who worked on the Manhattan Project and helped invent the world’s first atomic bomb. This familial legacy lies heavy on her shoulders and drives her commitment to non-violence. Her art practice revolves around the idea that the act of listening can be a catalyst for social change. Mann’s works are twofold. She creates sculptural musical instruments, such as horns and rattles, and then activates these pieces through performances. Mann’s artworks highlight the power of sound and enable political activism.

Constructed with a variety of materials, Mann’s rattles, noisemakers, trumpets, and other instruments are tools that galvanize the sonic energy of her work. From large fiberglass horns to smaller handheld ceramic rattles, each of these artworks act as their own distinct voice. When played together, they make up a unique collective unit; a synergistic roar that embodies the voices of those who strive for social change.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Mann will create a rattle making workshop open to the public (registration required) on March 9, 2024 at 2pm.

Mann is also producing a performance in collaboration with Sharon Chohi Kim and the Sunday Night Singers will take place March 30, 2024 at 2pm.

Elana Mann is an artist based in Southern California. Mann received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Washington University, St. Louis, MO and her Master of Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA. Her work is in the public collections of the Getty Research Institute, Cerritos College, Los Angeles Contemporary Archives, the Center for Political Graphics, and the London College of Communication. She has participated in group exhibitions and screenings at the Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla, the Orange County Museum of Art, and the Hirshhorn Museum, amongst many others.