ANN ARBOR—Heralded as one of the most stimulating forces in contemporary music, German-born artist and McArthur Fellow, Trimpin has arrived at the University of Michigan School of Art & Design for a multimedia project that evokes the haunting memories of the Holocaust.

During his residency, which runs through Feb. 22, Trimpin will be assisted by Ann Arbor musician Frank Pahl, as well as students from the U-M School of Art & Design, School of Information and German Department in developing “The Gurs Zyklus,” (“The Gurs Cycle”), a project that fuses kinetic sculpture, computer technology and 2-D and 3-D imagery.

Inspired by the lives of the Jews in his hometown during World War II, many of whom were transported to Gurs, a Nazi internment camp in France, Trimpin’s “Gurs Cycle” aims to evoke the sounds, sensory impressions and emotional texture of this devastating episode in his village’s history. As a hint of things to come, Trimpin has brought with him from Germany what he calls a “fire organ” as a part of this project.

Extending a holocaust focus, Trimpin’s visit coincides with a newly opened U-M University Library exhibit of Holocaust-era letters and photographs from the collection of Sala Garncarz, a Nazi labor camp survivor. While here, Trimpin will also be helping to translate letters from the internment camp at Gurs sent by family members of Victor Rosenberg, a professor at the School of Information.

“Trimpin’s residency offers students first-hand experiences with an artist whose work is expanding our definitions of sculpture and music,” said Bryan Rogers, dean of the School of Art & Design.

Trimpin is a pacesetter in merging computing with traditional acoustic instruments. He has created a range of innovative methods for playing a variety of musical instruments.As a kinetic sculptor, sound artist, musician and composer, Trimpin has also used everything from slide projectors to wooden shoes to TV Cathode ray tubes as sound instruments.

“One of my projects investigated how earthquakes can be translated into a musical score,” Trimpin said. “I got a commission from the Art Center in St. Paul Minnesota to make an installation in the atrium. Every time there is an earthquake somewhere on earth it will play on this installation. If the earthquake is in Asia it uses an Asian scale. If it is in Africa, there are more African rhythms. There are almost 20 major earthquakes every day, sometimes in Siberia, or on the ocean floor.”

Another well-known Trimpin installation at the Experience Music Project in Seattle features a tower of musical instruments, particularly guitars, which are played by electronically controlled devices.

Trimpin received a MacArthur “genius grant” in 1997. MacArthur Fellows are selected for their creativity, originality and potential.

Upcoming Trimpin events include:

Presentation: “A Kinetic Retrospective” Trimpin discusses his ongoing exploration of sound, vision and movement. 5:10 p.m., Feb.14 at Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty. As part of the Penny W. Stamps Distinguished Visitors Series.

Reception: “The Gurs Zyklus,” a work-in-progress. Reception to meet visiting artist Trimpin, 5-7 p.m., Feb .21, 2000 Bonisteel Blvd., first floor.