Walk into the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago’s atrium, and visitors are immediately saturated by the physical and aural art. Sonic Arboretum, a collaboration between sculptor and instrument maker Ian Schneller and musician Andrew Bird, features Birds’ hauntingly melodic and eloquent tunes channeled through Schneller’s equally compelling horned speakers.

Eight Forty-Eight caught up with Schneller as he was installing the exhibit. It runs through the end of the month with a couple of special live performances by Bird. Schneller began by talking about where the idea for his creations came from. Sonic Arboretum will run through Dec. 31, with special performances by Andrew Bird on Dec. 21 and 22.