Todd Larson

Working as an artist, musician, technologist and volunteer, I moved to Oakland from Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2014.

Installations / Visual Art
Creating visual and experiential work in photography and installation, I aim to bring clarity to the increasingly dense aural-visual landscape. Work in this area includes the immersive digital sound installation "To Hear You Speak" (1987) and the audio for broadcast composition "Attention Span", commissioned by KFAI radio.

Moving from large format analog to digital street photography, my "Groundwork" Instagram feeds surface the textures and poetic compositions of the urban hardscape.

I received a BFA in Media Arts from Minneapolis College of Art & Design.

Music / Sound / Audio
As the founder of Basic Food Group, formed in 1986, I have performed and recorded with Steve Boyles, Rik Sferra, Hall Sanders, Michael Bruns, Ben Glaros, Eliot Larson and others. The band continues to work on new music, and will release a follow-up to the critically acclaimed "Three Squares" as a two-volume edition of scores.

Performing and recording on the electric and acoustic bass since middle school, I've worked with artists across the spectrum, with concentrations in jazz, experimental, free improv, R&B and New Music. These musicians include Ginger Commodore and Slice, Paul Vachon, Peggy Clark, Bill Gabrys, Doug Keuhn, George Pettus, 2 Mikes In Racin' Wagon, and many uncredited appearances on commercials and demos.

As a composer and sound designer I've created soundtracks for documentary and narrative films, including "Long Gone", directed by David Eberhardt. Most recently, I worked with Clint Imboden on sound design for his installation for the "Let Me Be A Witness" exhibition at Root Division gallery in San Francisco.

I received an Artist Opportunity award in Music Composition from the Minnesota State Arts Board, and was commissioned to create a new audio work for radio by KFAI.

Formal education includes studies with Ona Pinsonneault, Carlo Minnetti, David Nye Brown and Steve Erquiaga.

Communities
Volunteer work includes service on the board of directors of the Berrett-Koehler Foundation and Leonardo's Basement. I'm also a member of the Center for New Music and the California Jazz Conservatory.

I work at California College of the Arts as the Director of Creative Instructional Technologies.

A detailed CV is available on request.