Christopher Scott Hydinger, n. [from Tudino and Hydinger; of Italian, Austrian, British, Scottish & Dutch descent.] 1. human being possessing strong inclinations toward creating well-developed art, design, music and writing. 2. a seeker of truth 3. in philosophy, someone with Humanist sensibilities or a goal of harboring Humanist sensibilities. 4. someone who possesses a transparent, detail-focused, empowering communication style. 5. a bridger of gaps. 6. someone who harbors equal respect for the art and craft of any given medium. 7. previous art director and landscape designer/gardener with Intepra Gardens. 8. previous creative director and graphic designer with Pacific Galleries.
The Professionally Appropriate Third-Person Section
Growing up in northern Virginia and southern Pennsylvania, his childhood and teen years were spent exploring art, design and athletics. Coming from a musically-inclined family (mother a trained vocalist, grandfather a professional flute and piccolo player in the Rhode Island Symphony Orchestra, brother a trained jazz drummer), he first learned how to sing while participating in a youth choir and began exploring experimental composition at 14.
During a two-year period at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia he was introduced to the classical, electric and acoustic guitars and began composing songs for guitar and voice, co-forming the group Abstract based on those songs. The band featured cello instead of bass, the parts for which he wrote.
He relocated to Seattle, Washington in 1998 to further pursue art, design and music interests. He joined The Dotted Line as bass player and Lady Krishna’s Peppermint Lounge as guitarist in 1999. Founded new band Grayface in 2000 based on current compositions for guitar and voice. Changed name to The Music of Grayface in 2005 to more accurately reflect band concept. Joined ARKADE in 2001, first as guitarist then switching to drums/percussion. Founded solo instrumental live-score project The Antenna Project in 2002. Joined Death By Doll (featuring graphic novelist, illustrator and musician Dame Darcy) as drummer in 2004. Joined Electric Chinese Orchestra as sound artist, trumpet player and vocalist in 2006. Joined Palodine as drummer in 2006. Founded solo experimental digital composition project 3844 in 2007. Co-founded art-theater group PB_TMOG (with choreographer/movement artist Paige Barnes) in 2008.
He is currently active in The Music of Grayface, 3844 and The Antenna Project.
While in Seattle he has performed at venues such as Benaroya Hall, Neumos, The Crocodile, Chop Suey, On The Boards, Velocity Dance Center, the Henry Art Gallery, Northwest Film Forum and the Triple Door sharing the stage with such acts as Low, Woven Hand, David Bazan (Pedro the Lion), The Gossip, Sun City Girls, The Makers, Tara Jane O’Neil, Kinski, The Dead Science and Climax Golden Twins.
He held the position of artist-in-residence at Punk Rock Yoga from 2004-2006. He has participated in numerous recording sessions with various groups producing four LPs, three EPs, as well as seven singles for Ball of Wax, Lujo Records, Old Redmond Firehouse, and Ladyfest compilations. He was invited to interpret work by the late iconic composer/musician Laura Nyro for live performance at Martin-Zambito Fine Art’s hosting of national biography book signing tour in 2002. He produced, filmed, edited and composed the music for the movement art-based film ‘Thetrialsofaninterstateaffair’ (featuring choreographer/movement artist Jessica Jobaris) for inclusion in the music film compilation DVD ‘Ball of Wax: Volume 7’ in 2007. He co-produced, filmed and edited two site-specific movement art-based films at the Henry Art Gallery and Northwest Film Forum with choreographer/movement artist Paige Barnes for inclusion in two self-produced movement art/live music performance installations at both venues as part of Velocity Dance Theater’s Next Dance Cinema in 2008.
He has received generous funding from the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, the Bossak/Heilbron Charitable Foundation and various private sources. He has participated in regional and national tours, had his music featured in local films, theater and movement art performances and has performed live on various radio stations.
From 2009-2012, he co-produced, co-creative directed and co-curated (with Paige Barnes) the quarterly Dance and Music improvisation-based performance series HERE/NOW hosted by Open Flight Studio (OFS) in Seattle’s University District. The series featured some of the Pacific Northwest’s most active and respected Dancers and Musicians and proved to be a distinct and vital cultural event while also serving as a much needed platform for experimentation, connection and feedback between professional Dancers and Musicians. In June, 2011 HERE/NOW received a full Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs smART ventures Program Grant.
TIMELINE
1974 – Born in Philadelphia, PA
1975 – Relocated from Willingboro, NJ to Dale City, VA
1980-86 – Attended Enterprise Elementary School, Saunders Middle School
1986 – Relocated to Sterling, VA
1986-89 – Attended Seneca Ridge Middle School, Broad Run High School
1989 – Relocated to York, PA
1989-92 – Attended Central York High School
1992 – Relocated to Norfolk, VA to attend Old Dominion University
1995-98 – Co-founded and active in music group Abstract
1997 – Multi-canvas Series, painting/sculpture (oil, canvas, steel, steel wire); two works as part of on-going group exhibition; Palmer-Rae Gallery (Norfolk, VA)
1997 – Abstract (solo appearance), National Organization for Women (NOW) benefit show; (Virginia Beach, VA)
1998 – Relocated to Seattle, WA
1999 – Imagination in Situ, painting (oil, canvas); donated to charity auction produced by the Lake Marburg Moss Chapter of the P. Buckley Moss Society; Inn 94, New Oxford (Hanover, PA)
1999 – Flag Series: Bridging the Compositional Gap Between the Action and Colorist Movements, painting (acrylic, wood, standard hardboard); solo exhibition; Curb Gallery (Seattle, WA)
1999-02 – Co-founded and active in music group Lady Krishna’s Peppermint Lounge
2000 – Founded solo music group Grayface
2001 – For Alice (wood stool, epoxy, mirrored glass), 3D Sketch in Red Wire (electrical wire), sculpture; The Dysfunctional Chair Show; Vital 5 Gallery (Seatte, WA)
2001-08 – Active in music group ARKADE
2002 – State of Condition Series: Part 1, Humans vs. Nature, four photographic works titled Exhibit A, B, C and D (color 35mm print, b&w 35mm print, foamcore); Four Young Photographers group exhibition; Martin-Zambito Fine Art Gallery (Seattle, WA)
2002 – Founded solo music group The Antenna Project
2002 – The Antenna Project, book-signing event for biography of Laura Nyro, Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro by Michele Kort, produced by David Martin, Dominic Zambito, Michele Kort; Martin-Zambito Fine Art (Seattle, WA)
2003 – Produced Audiolab live music event, hosted by The Antenna Project; Alibi Room (Seattle, WA)
2003 – The Antenna Project, One showcase/event, produced by Washington Mutual Bank; Benaroya Hall (Seattle, WA)
2004 – ARKADE, participated in Ladyfest Music Festival; Crocodile (Seattle, WA)
2004-06 – The Antenna Project, artist-in-residence at Punk Rock Yoga, weekly yoga class with Kimberlee Jensen; The Vera Project (Seattle, WA)
2004-08 – Active in music group Death By Doll
2004 – Grayface, multi-disciplinary “Venetian Blind” performance featuring live music and semi-scripted performance art simultaneously presented; featuring theater artists Kate Kraay and Dave ???; Rendezvous, Jewel Box Theater (Seattle, WA)
2005 – ARKADE, participated in ‘Fun or Dumb’ West Coast Tour with In Praise of Folly
2005 – Grayface, multi-disciplinary “Venetian Blind” performance featuring live music and semi-scripted performance art simultaneously presented; featuring theater artist Kate Kraay and painter Christopher Martin Hoff; Open Circle Theater (Seattle, WA)
2005 – ARKADE, ‘Ball of Wax Audio Quarterly: Volume 2’; Listen, Here
2005 – Changed name of music group Grayface to The Music of Grayface
2005 – Death By Doll, participated in Ladyfest Music Festival; Capitol Theater (Olympia, WA)
2005 – ARKADE, designed, typeset and illustrated the nationally-released ‘The Story of Hiding’ LP packaging, disc and artwork
2005 – The Antenna Project, party/fundraiser for Music for America non-profit; private residence (Seattle, WA)
2006 – The Music of Grayface, ‘Ball of Wax Audio Quarterly: Volume 5’; Averyshortstory
2006-07 – Active in music group Electric Chinese Orchestra
2006 – Death By Doll, participated in national tour in support of ‘Gasoline’ full-length record and Dame Darcy’s ‘The Illustrated Jane Eyre’ book published by Penguin
2006-08 – Active in music group Palodine
2007 – Founded music group 3844 (pronounced thirty-eight, forty-four)
2007 – ARKADE, ‘Ball of Wax Audio Quarterly: Volume 7 (videos)’; Giuseppe
2007 -The Music of Grayface, ‘Ball of Wax Audio Quarterly: Volume 7 (videos)’; Thetrialsofaninterstateaffair (featuring choreographer and movement artist Jessica Jobaris)
2007 – The Music of Grayface, original music composed and four additional verses written for First Dance at Elaine and Rob’s wedding; Tilltherewasyou
2008 – The Music of Grayface, ‘Ball of Wax Audio Quarterly: Volume 14’; Pigeonsandpencils
2008-12 – Co-founded and active in art-theater group PB_TMOG
2008 – Designed costume for solo movement art performance; choreographed/performed by Paige Barnes; On The Boards (Seattle, WA)
2008 – Co-produced, filmed/edited, designed, performed multimedia PB_TMOG art-theater performance installation MovementFilmMusic; Henry Art Gallery (Seattle, WA)
2008 – Co-produced, filmed/edited, designed, performed multimedia PB_TMOG art-theater performance installation MovementFilmMusic; Northwest Film Forum (Seattle, WA)
2009-present – started creating WCS Naturally Felled Trees Series Candle Holders; featured in Tacoma Art Museum (Tacoma, WA), Whatcom Museum (Bellingham, WA), Columbia City Gallery (Seattle, WA), Bellevue Arts Museum (Bellevue, WA), Museum of Northwest Art (La Conner, WA), Cascadia Art Museum (Edmonds, WA), Bainbridge Island Art Museum (Bainbridge Island, WA) shops; v4.0 is only version currently being produced (v1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 have all been discontinued)
2009 – Co-produced, composed, designed and performed PB_TMOG art-theater work Ayudapii: The Task (featuring choreography by Paige Barnes, movement artist Marisa Haga, acoustic guitarist Christopher ‘Space’ Howe); Open Flight Studio (Seattle, WA)
2009 – Co-produced, composed, designed and performed PB_TMOG art-theater work Ayudapii: The Collector (featuring choreography by Paige Barnes, movement artists Alice Gosti, Allie Hankins, Mônica Mata Gilliam, Paige Barnes, Uraina Nagy, acoustic guitarist Christopher ‘Space’ Howe); Open Flight Studio (Seattle, WA)
2009 – Awarded ‘Independent Dance Performance of the Year’ by Seattle Weekly for PB_TMOG’s art-theater work Ayudapii: The Collector
2009 – CHOICE (ABS, mirrored glass), BIKE (concrete, mirrored glass), ECHO (wood, mirrored glass), 3D typography sculptures; bridge[d] group exhibition, opening of eco-townhomes designed by Johnston Architects; Footprint at the Bridge (Seattle, WA)
2009-12 – Co-founded, co-produced, co-creative directed, co-curated quarterly Dance and Music improvisation-based performance series HERE/NOW (produced 12 installments)
2010 – Road to Nowhere, (solo butoh theater performance by Joan Laage), live improvised multi-instrumental music composition; Teatro de la Psychomachia (Seattle, WA)
2010 – Off the Cuff, Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation (SFDI), ‘untitled’ music and movement art performance featuring Haruko Nishimura and Karl Frost; improvised cornet composition and movement art; Broadway Performance Hall (Seattle, WA)
2010 – Co-produced, composed, designed and performed PB_TMOG art-theater work Ayudapii: The Evolution of Need (featuring choreography by Paige Barnes, theater artist Paul Budraitis, movement artists Alice Gosti, Allie Hankins, Mônica Mata Gilliam, Shannon Kay Stewart); Open Flight Studio (Seattle, WA)
2010-2013 – 3844, composed The Planets concept album
2011 – Nine for 7, University of WA; inspired by the HERE/NOW series, students create and produce their own version of an evening of improvised Dance and Music duet performances
2011 – HERE/NOW program awarded full Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs grant
2011 – Founded S.I.S.S.Y. (Seattle Ice Skating Society for Youthsters); youthsters are anyone who enjoys activities generally viewed as youth-centric but are no longer in their proverbial youth
2011 – Grafshoe #1; sculpture (shoe, paint, ink, resin mesh, nylon strap)
2011 – Grafshoe #2; sculpture (shoe, paint, ink, resin mesh, nylon strap)
2012 – Two Huts, Sound Operator; live theater-art performance written and directed by Stephanie Skura, featuring Stephanie Slurs, Debra Wanner, Tom Cayler, Todd Jefferson Moore; Open Flight Studio (Seattle, WA)
2012 – The Music of Grayface, Northwest Folklife Festival, In the Loop “Future of Folk” showcase; Folklife Café, Seattle Center (Seattle, WA)
2012 – The Music of Grayface, ‘Ball of Wax Audio Quarterly: Volume 27’; Silentcanoes
2012 – The Antenna Project (first presentation of ‘live jack’ technique); Pillow Full of Drone showcase, produced by Casey Jones (noisepoetnobody); Visionary Studio (Seattle, WA)
2013 – The Existence Experience Experiment: Ahadu; drawing (ink, canvas, aluminum); Holiday Miniature Art Extravaganza group exhibition; Twilight (now Virago) Gallery (Seattle, WA)
2013 – Designed and hand-built multimedia limited edition Gnarly and Sweet EP by Syrinx Effect (Naomi Siegel, Kate Olson)
2013 – 3844, composed Walking Score for Seattle-based poet and performing artist Mimi Allin
2013 – The Music of Grayface, ‘Ball of Wax Audio Quarterly: Volume 31 (covers)’; Hourglass, original composition by Slow Skate (Caitlin Sherman)
2014 – BookMapPump, interactive multimedia sculpture (wood, stainless steel, magnets, epoxy, resin mesh, paper, stickers); Valentine’s Day group exhibition; Jinxed Gallery (Philadelphia, PA)
2014 – The Antenna Project, Contact Improv Dance Jam, produced by Briana Jones; Taoist Studies Institute (Seattle, WA)
2014-2018 – Wandering & Wondering, annual multi-performer butoh + music performance (produced by Joan Laage); live improvised multi-instrumental music composition; Kubota Garden, Seattle Japanese Garden, Bellevue Botanical Garden (Seattle, WA and Bellevue, WA)
2014 – Produced music composition please by Candice Rose
2015 – BIKE, 3D typography sculpture (concrete, mirrored glass); INKY SPOKES: A Traveling Expedition of Bicycle Inspired Art; Tacoma Art Museum (Tacoma, WA), Vera Project (Seattle, WA)
2015 – The Antenna Project, Contact Improv Dance Jam, produced by Briana Jones; Taoist Studies Institute (Seattle, WA)
2015 – 3844, ‘Ball of Wax Audio Quarterly: Volume 42’; The Meaning of Life: 4point2times10tothe10th
2015-2017 – The Antenna Project, weekly yoga class with Kathleen Hunt; Velocity Dance Center, Studio Current, Live Love Flow Yoga Studio (Seattle, WA)
2016 – Produced/co-wrote music composition fraud by Candice Rose
2016 – The Antenna Project, Contact Improv Dance Jam, produced by Briana Jones; Open Flight Studio (Seattle, WA)
2016 – The Antenna Project, Contact Improvisation Movement Jam, facilitated by Christian Swenson; Velocity Dance Center (Seattle, WA)
2016 – The Antenna Project, ‘TAP 4.0: The Nyxology Sessions, Installment 1’; Wayward Music Series; The Chapel Performance Space, Good Shepherd Center (Seattle, WA)
2017 – Contributed five written pieces to Timea Tihanyi’s Parlor Games: Scientia, Scientia Library Project; Linda Hodges Gallery (Seattle, WA)
2017-2020 – The Antenna Project, started consistently live-scoring the Last Sunday Contact Improvisation Movement Jam, Velocity Dance Center (Seattle, WA) [Velocity Dance Center closed studio]
2017 – The Antenna Project, Nomad, weekly Open Movement Jam, facilitated by Lisa Lightner; various venues (Seattle, WA)
2017 – The Antenna Project, ‘Indigo’, JKLM Studio & Sea<=>Bus; June 16, 17, 18, Velocity Dance Center (Seattle, WA)
2017 – The Antenna Project; [FRAGILE], interactive movement and music performance part of the Seattle International Dance Festival, (Cosmin Manolescu, Giselda Ranieri, Tanja Andreeva); June 22, Velocity Dance Center (Seattle, WA)
2017 – The Existence Experience Experiment: MISSIN ROE MDEL, 13-piece drawing (ink, canvas, aluminum); September, Glo’s Restaurant (Seattle, WA)
2017-? – 3844, composed ROY G BIV concept album (in-progress)
2018 – The Antenna Project, ‘TAP 4.0: The Nyxology Sessions, Installment 2’; Wayward Music Series; The Chapel Performance Space, Good Shepherd Center (Seattle, WA)
2018 – The Existence Experience Experiment: MISSIN ROE MDEL and Ahadu (ink, canvas, aluminum); March, Cupcake Royale (West Seattle, WA)
2018 – The Antenna Project; ‘Ball of Wax Audio Quarterly: Volume 51 (Looong Sooongs)’; Calm Culture Sample 1
2018 – The Antenna Project, live-scored Datza Studios Grand Opening party (Seattle, WA)
2018 – The Antenna Project, music included in the Seattle Center International Fountain music mix; November, curated by award-winning curator and musician James Whetzel (Seattle, WA)
2018 – The Antenna Project, ‘TAP 4.0: The Nyxology Sessions, Installment 3’; Wayward Music Series; The Chapel Performance Space, Good Shepherd Center (Seattle, WA)
2019 – Poet-Warrior Mask #1 (skateboarding helmet, paint, ink, jute and polyester rope, brass, wood, steel, cotton string and doily, copper)
2019 – Always Lucky (low fire clay, ink); ongoing series of two realistically scaled classic six-sided game die, one with all six sides stamped with 3 dimples and one with all six sides stamped with 4 dimples, every roll of these die will come up 7s
2020 – Founded Calm Culture Collective; in-person and online collaborative social club, a consistent and reliable platform for its members to connect with each other and constructively discuss issues as well as personal experiences relating to Calm and to then co-develop consistent and reliable Calm-generating mechanisms through their various disciplines and positions in the community
2020-present – The Antenna Project, ‘Chillout Nook Sessions’; weekly series of meta live-scores video recorded at HQ (Seattle, WA)
2020 – Launched the online WCS Art and Design Gallery; features text-based wearable works
2021 – Designed logotype and logo for Seth Damm’s rope-based art and wearables brand NEON ZINN, website concept editing and copyediting
2021 – Brand re-authored Kaua’i, HI-based eco-sustainable tree care provider company Kaua’i Tree Tribe, website editing, copywriting, image management
2020-2022 – 3844, composed The Psychedelic Monotony And Epic Grace Of The Final Sixteen Minutes Of The Life Of The Last Fenrir for the Music for Active Meditation on-going concept album
2022 – The Antenna Project, ‘TAP 4.0: The Nyxology Sessions, Installment 4’; Wayward Music Series; The Chapel Performance Space, Good Shepherd Center (Seattle, WA)
2022 – The Antenna Project, ‘TAP 4.0: The Nyxology Sessions, Installment 5’; Wayward Music Series; The Chapel Performance Space, Good Shepherd Center (Seattle, WA)
2022 – Brand re-authored business identity, flat stock, business cards for Kaua’i, HI-based eco-sustainable tree care provider company Kaua’i Tree Tribe, aka Brian Greer, Arboreal Consultant
2021-2022 – 3844, composed Of The Edge Of The Edge Of The Edge But Joyful for the Music for Active Meditation on-going concept album
2023-? – The Antenna Project, started consistently live-scoring the Last Sunday Contact Improvisation Jam being facilitated by Briana Jones, eXit SPACE (Seattle, WA) [previous tenant was Velocity Dance Center]
2023 – The Music of Grayface, released Averybrieftale music video on WCS Art and Design YouTube channel
WCS Art and Design 