Back to the Meadows: An audio sculpture ode to LL Cool J
Sherwin Banfield, an artist and sculptor born in Trinidad and trained in New York City, is known for his enthralling, classically influenced modern sculptures and audio sculptures. Much of Banfield’s work can be seen out and about in NYC’s public spaces, whether it’s six action-posed triathlon figures in Riverside Park South, or Socrates Sculpture Park’s “A Cypher in Queens,” depicting legendary hip-hop figures Jam Master Jay, Phife Dawg, and Prodigy.
Like Banfield, Leon Speakers has carved a unique space in the audio world as a pioneer of high-design audio solutions steeped in artistic foundations and, of course, a passion for music. So when the two came together for Banfield’s latest project, the result was a fascinating ode to the hip-hop music that helped define multiple generations.
“It’s a continuation of public sculpture that aims to provide a representation of culture shifters,” Banfield said of the project’s fruition. “I chose hip-hop as the discipline of culture shifters because it had an impact on me as a young person growing up interested in music and culture, as it did on many others.”
The project, called “Going Back to the Meadows,” is an audio installation inspired by Queens-born hip-hop artist LL Cool J. Located in the neighborhood’s Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the project is an intricate audio sculpture of the artist overlooking the public space in all its steel, stone and bronze-cast glory. It depicts the journey of LL Cool J through a stack of boxy forms culminating in the bust of the artist himself, formed in classic bronze. A foundation of weatherable steel gives way to Leon’s Terra Outdoor Speakers and then stone, followed by a block of resin that is crafted into a glossy stereo impression and encased in embossed stainless steel.
“The materials are symbolic. I wanted the environment of Queens, this location, to be a metaphor for how your environment helps mold who you are,” Banfield said. “I wanted to keep it in the tradition of classical bronze—yet as you elevate from a rusty environment affected by the elements, you go to stainless steel, which is rust proof, and then you get to this very traditional, valued material.”
When it came to the speakers that would give the sculpture sound, Banfield’s choice to install a product from Leon’s Terra Outdoor Audio series was immediate. Handcrafted in Maine in five sleek designs, the series houses marine-grade drivers in precision-fit, waterproof cabinets, as well as high-performance audio for the most demanding environments, much like that of Queens.
“I chose Leon because of the wonderful experience and working relationship I had in my previous project, which was my first introduction to Leon,” said Banfield. “[A Cypher in Queens] included four Terra speakers, and let me tell you, those speakers had an exceptional sound quality for the project during the entire installation. They held up through all New York’s changing weather, and the sound was clean and crisp—it was a no brainer.”
A challenge of including the Terra speaker was giving it power in a public park, but the obstacle proved meaningful for Banfield through its fusion of modern technology in contemporary art. He chose to install a solar panel at the base of the sculpture for sustainable functionality in all seasons: an idea that reflects the resourceful tech-savviness of hip-hop. LL Cool J even showed the sculpture some love on Instagram, writing “Anything is possible,” and Time Out New York covered the project in an article after it wrapped.
““The way I see it, this process is really in the realm of hip hop - because hip hop took a tradition that existed and mixed it with the new technology of its day, whether it’s sampling machines or turn tables for remixing, and made it something new,””
Similarly, Leon’s customizable audio solutions reflect a harmony between what is classic and contemporary, both in style and technology. After 25 years at the forefront of their craft, Leon products are installed throughout residential and commercial markets, as well as artisanal projects nationwide. Discover more creative audio-based projects by Leon Speakers on the company’s Blog, and discover Leon’s multifaceted portfolio of audio products—and their applications—at leonspeakers.com.
