Theaster Gates's Tonal Effects at MACRO: A Sonic Journey
On May 26, 2026, artist Theaster Gates hosted an innovative listening experience at the MACRO Auditorium in Rome, created by architect Odile Decq. Over 80 minutes, guests enjoyed a curated selection of vinyl records spanning soul, funk, R&B, blues, jazz, and house from the 1960s to 1980s, highlighting sounds from Chicago and Philadelphia. Gates utilized a Roland vocalizer to create textured audio layers, incorporating a 1972 interview with Angela Davis and Nina Simone's iconic piece "Black Is The Color of My True Love's Hair." The event culminated with a stirring rendition of “Sinner Man," energizing attendees, who celebrated the intersection of music, culture, and activism.
Key facts
- Event took place on May 26, 2026 at MACRO Auditorium in Rome.
- Auditorium designed by Odile Decq with reflective red interior.
- Vinyl records from collections of Luca Collepiccolo and Francesco Graziadei.
- Music genres: soul, funk, R&B, blues, jazz, house (1960s-1980s).
- Gates used a Roland vocalizer to loop his voice.
- Played 1972 Black Journal interview with Angela Davis.
- Referenced Malcolm X's February 14, 1965 Detroit speech.
- Gates sang 'Sinner Man' and ended with Teddy Pendergrass.
Entities
Artists
- Theaster Gates
- Odile Decq
- Luca Collepiccolo
- Francesco Graziadei
- Marvin Gaye
- Pharoah Sanders
- Teddy Pendergrass
- Nina Simone
- Mahalia Jackson
- Angela Davis
- Malcolm X
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- August Wilhelmj
- Felix Mendelssohn
- Daniela Cascella
Institutions
- MACRO
- Erratum Press
- Black Journal
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Chicago
- Philadelphia
- London
- Detroit
- Harlem