Beale’s Cut

Beale’s Cut is a sound sculpture that transforms an iconic slice of landscape into an immersive, living artwork. Visitors experience the cut not just visually, but aurally—its surfaces, angles, and textures rendered into sound that shifts as you move through the space. The piece invites exploration, asking viewers to listen closely, attune to subtleties, and consider the ways environment and perception intersect.

While the sculpture is foremost a work of art, it carries echoes of history within its form. The cut’s layers whisper of the Tataviam people who originally inhabited the region, the Chinese laborers whose hands shaped the passage, and the engineering ingenuity that carved this monumental slice of earth. These stories are not the sculpture’s focus—they are byproducts of its creation, resonating naturally through its physical and acoustic presence.

The work emphasizes time, motion, and human perception. Sounds emerge gradually, shift with perspective, and vanish as you move, creating a sense of discovery unique to each visitor. In this way, Beale’s Cut is less a static monument and more a living conversation between landscape, sound, and those who encounter it.

Ultimately, the sculpture invites us to listen first—to the environment, to the layers beneath the surface, and to the subtle interplay of art and history—before piecing together the stories it holds.