TANK
The TANK is a unique (and uniquely located) sonic space in the small remote town of Rangely, Colorado. The TANK itself is a 65’ tall (20m), 35’ diameter (10.5m) welded plate-steel structure which once held water for steam trains preparing to cross the Continental Divide. It has an RT60 which exceeds 16 seconds, no flat surfaces whatsoever, and a shimmering sonic quality which challenges people to listen deeply. In the 1950s it was cut up and moved to this remote town (away from freeway noise) for a project which was never completed, and is one of the very few remaining structures of its kind anywhere, and the only such space dedicated to sound and listening. Sound artist Bruce Odland discovered The TANK in 1976 when on a Chautauqua tour of Colorado, and began recording albums and soundtracks there. Over the years it attained a significant underground presence but few knew where it was or how to access it. In 2012, The TANK was under threat of being sold for scrap. A small group of artists launched a Kickstarter campaign to save The TANK for artistic and humanistic purposes and succeeded, in the process going “public” as a sound art space.
Our technical vision for The TANK is to support artistic work of the very highest calibre. Audience seating within The TANK is constrained, so we offer an extended concert experience to ticket holders seated out-of-doors in an adjacent natural amphitheatre bringing a unique sense of immersion.