JJJJJerome Ellis
b. 1989, Groton, CT; lives and works in Norfolk, VA
Sonic Bathhouse #2, 2025
Sound, 8 min, loop
Commission by The Fralin Museum of Art
The sound of slowing down. JJJJJerome Ellis is an artist, surfer, and person who stutters. They gained widespread recognition through a 2020 This American Life episode, which featured their powerful performance at the Poetry Project’s New Year’s Day Marathon. In that performance, Ellis allowed their stutter to unfold without constraint, intentionally defying time limits and societal expectations around speech and performance. This act of vocal resistance has since become central to their interdisciplinary practice, which spans music, writing, and installation art. Through their work, Ellis invites audiences to reconsider accepted notions of time, access, and rest—especially through a disability-centered lens.
Sonic Bathhouse #2, presented here in a new version commissioned by The Fralin, continues this exploration. This space features speakers, vibrotactile seating, and a range of other comfortable seating options. We invite you to rest, feel, enjoy, and find solace in the sound.
Please stay as long as you wish.
Artist Description
A dark, ocean-like breeze drifts in, its low drone inviting reflection and introspection. As the track unfolds, subtle glimmers of light begin to emerge—bright, optimistic gestures that enter gradually, spaced like distant stars. Soon, a mid-frequency drone joins them, reminiscent of the sun's hazy outline above the water. It drifts in and out, while the higher tones continue their delicate dance. When the mid drone returns, it's warmer, more comforting—like sunlight gently breaking through morning mist. The layers build and swirl, enveloping the listener in a gentle current, drawing them into a beautiful, drifting daydream.
-- Description by Molly Joyce
Basic Description
This piece features a quiet soundscape grounded in subtle room acoustics. The core sonic texture is shaped by moments of reflection, slight vocal inflections, and gentle pacing that invites deep listening. The spatial stereo layout gives the impression of physical proximity, as though seated with the speakers in an informal, lived-in space. Various seating options, including floor cushions, lounging chairs, and benches, appear throughout the space. You are invited to sit and rest for as long as you wish.