My Experience: A symphony of disappearing sounds for the Great Salt Lake
A temporary art installation at Memory Grove Park shines a light on the issues facing the Great Salt Lake. The artwork features several displays on a massive globe, accompanied by a symphony of sounds often heard at the GSL. Photo by Ivan Carrasco Sr.
It’s easy to place yourself in the wetlands and the shores of the Great Salt Lake and close your eyes — immersing yourself in a serene serenade that has been slowly washing back into the ever-growing shallows of the saltiness of small waves.
The squawking, chirping, and calling from the millions of birds that descend on this precious body of water — among the many other critters and animals — can be music to some, and it should be to all. The soft rhythm of waves lapping the shoreline — occasionally giving way to thunderous winds sweeping across the lake and surrounding mountains — adds a more unexpected chorus. From the lake’s far western edge near the Tooele Army Depot comes the distant booms of military detonations. Overhead, the high-pitched roar of fighter and commercial jets cuts through the air. Together, these sounds form a unique, ever-present soundscape — a natural orchestra that locals and visitors alike have listened to for generations.
At dawn, the same waters offer another kind of spectacle. The sunrise breaks from the east and spills across the lake’s surface, igniting it in layers of gold, orange, and soft pink. The light dances and refracts across the rippling water, creating an ever-shifting canvas that feels both fleeting and eternal. And during the long stretch of summer evenings, the sky lingers in a slow fade — casting an array of colors so vivid and unexpected they would make even the most seasoned artist jealous of nature’s own kaleidoscope.
The globe featured in “Symphony of Disappearing Sounds for the Great Salt Lake” casts a mirrored image on the creek below, creating a double dose of visuals. Photo by Ivan Carrasco Sr.
Together, these elements create an unlikely symphony; a natural orchestra that locals and visitors alike have been tuning into for generations. It is a place where nature and industry collide — not always gently, but undeniably powerfully.
A temporary installation now in Memory Grove Park works to bring this idea to the forefront. Named “A symphony of disappearing sounds for the Great Salt Lake,” the artwork was created by internationally renowned Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson in collaboration with UK-based music producer Koreless. Eliasson, known for large-scale public works that challenge perceptions of the environment, combined recordings of the lake’s wildlife and natural phenomena with a towering three-story sphere illuminated with colorful projections. The result was an immersive experience that transforms sound and light into storytelling, connecting visitors to the ecological and cultural significance of the lake.
From the first note to the last, the installation felt like the life of the lake itself — flocks of birds migrating, global temperatures rising, and waters consistently drying up. All of this, gracefully expressed through sound and light. The music composition, while at times loud and eerie, beautifully blended with the visuals in a harmonious dance that stirred deep emotions in the darkness of the gully.
And as the installation concluded, a beautiful bloom of colors seemed to carry a message: if we come together and act as one, we can restore this precious natural jewel to its place among the world’s wonders. This is an experience meant to be felt without words — an invitation to reflect on, visualize, and act for the Great Salt Lake.
“What you see is as if the lake had turned and all the animals and all the species have turned into a symphony trying to tell us something,” explained Eliasson.
Eliasson said the idea of the installation was to help visitors understand that the lake has agency, that it’s alive, and that it’s speaking to us. “Now our challenge is, can we hear it? Do we understand what it is saying?”
This pop-up art installation casts an array of colors so vivid and unexpected — something akin to nature’s own kaleidoscope. Photo by Ivan Carrasco Sr.
Salt Lake City was selected as one of eight cities nationwide to receive $1 million from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge, which supports temporary public art projects addressing critical local issues. A symphony of disappearing sounds for the Great Salt Lake serves as the culmination project of the Wake the Great Salt Lake Initiative, aimed at highlighting the shrinking of the lake caused by humans and climate change. To do this, they employed diverse local, regional, and international artists who were committed to inspiring reflection and action.
Felicia Baca, Executive Director of the Salt Lake City Arts Council, emphasized the collaboration behind the project. “We have a lot of support for the arts from Mayor Mendenhall. Bloomberg has been an incredible partner, providing not just funding, but guidance and resources,” she said. “The Arts Council, local scientists, and our community have all come together to make this project meaningful and impactful.”
On the role of the mayor’s office, Baca explained, “Mayor Mendenhall’s support helped bring together private funders, connected us with community partners, and ensured we had the resources to realize this installation. It’s been a truly collaborative effort that highlights how the arts can unite people around a shared vision for the Great Salt Lake.”
Looking to the future, she added, “We want people to leave seeing the lake differently. This is a team effort — arts alone won’t solve the problem, but by creating a meaningful experience, we hope to inspire education, awareness, and action — locally and nationally — and spark conversations that help protect the Great Salt Lake for generations to come.”
As the installation concluded, a simple yet powerful message became clear: if we come together and act as one, we can restore this precious natural jewel to its place among the world’s wonders. Photo by Ivan Carrasco Sr.
“Of course, we can learn a lot from the lake because it's very smart. It's very intelligent if you look at it this way,” Eliasson explained. “So this idea that the lake is actually reaching out to us and speaking to us is one way of looking at it. Or you could also just say, ‘well, this is a great abstract work of art — let's get together and look at it.’”
The project also fosters collaboration with scientists, tribal communities, and environmental organizations, ensuring the installation is both scientifically informed and culturally resonant.
This installation, and the broader project, invited visitors to witness the lake’s beauty, its fragility, and its significance to the region. By combining sound, light, and scale, Eliasson and Koreless created more than an art experience: they have created a call to action.
The Great Salt Lake is not just a body of water; it is a lifeline for migratory birds, a natural wonder for residents, and a reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the environment.
A symphony of disappearing sounds for the Great Salt Lake runs through Saturday, April 4th at Memory Grove Park in Salt Lake City (300 North Canyon Road). Entry begins at 8 pm and the installation activates at 9 pm. It runs for approximately 30 minutes.
Learn more at Wake the Great Salt Lake’s website.