What Does Sound Look Like?

For one night in Chelsea, sound becomes something you can see.

Manhattan Borough President and Safe Water Network CEO Chris Williams (Former UN-Habitat Director) to champion Paul Newman’s Humanitarian Legacy at Chelsea Event

NEW YORK, NY – September 10, 2026 — Two-time Grammy Award-winning drummer and composer Will Calhoun (of the legendary rock band Living Colour) announces “What Does Sound Look Like?”, an intimate multimedia benefit concert exploring the intersection of fusion music, live digital art, and global social impact. The exclusive event will take place on the evening of Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at White Space Studio in Manhattan’s Chelsea art district.

Safe Water Network will host a VIP invitation-only gathering at 6:00pm with special opening remarks from the Manhattan Borough President, setting the stage for the 7:00pm performance, an unique cultural experience that bridges local civic leadership with global humanitarian action.

Instead of a traditional performance, “What Does Sound Look Like?” is a real-time audio-to-visual transformation. As Calhoun performs live on drums, acclaimed digital artist Charles Kliment will utilize custom software to capture Calhoun’s live rhythmic frequencies, instantly translating them into dynamic, immersive digital artwork projected across the gallery space. The venue will also showcase a curated gallery of Calhoun’s original physical art pieces.

The performance doubles as a vital fundraiser for Safe Water Network, the global non-profit co-founded by legendary actor and philanthropist Paul Newman. Proceeds from ticket sales and a live auction of Calhoun’s artwork will directly support the organization’s mission to expand sustainable, community-led clean water access to underserved areas worldwide.

“Music, rhythm, and art are universal languages that connect us all, much like our fundamental human need for clean water,” says Will Calhoun. “By bringing together live fusion music and real-time digital art, we are creating a multi-sensory experience that moves people creatively while driving measurable social impact in honor of Newman’s legacy.”

Joining Calhoun at the event will be Safe Water Network CEO Chris Williams, the former United Nations senior official, who brings decades of experience in international development.. “Expanding safe water access isn’t just about resource deployment, it’s about community empowerment, local entrepreneurship, and long-term sustainability,” stated Chris Williams, CEO of Safe Water Network.

“This event with Will Calhoun and the support of the Manhattan Borough President underscores how New York’s creative and civic leadership can amplify Paul Newman’s legacy to address the severe climate and water vulnerabilities impacting hundreds of thousands of people across India and Ghana.”

Event Schedule for September 16, 2026:

• 6:00 PM: VIP Cocktail Reception & Art Gallery Viewing/ Opening Remarks by the Manhattan Borough President

• 6:30 PM: Doors Open

• 7:15 PM: Main Multimedia Program & Performance

A limited number of press passes are available for credentialed media. Journalists interested in covering the event, receiving high-resolution visual assets, or scheduling an interview with Will Calhoun or Chris Williams should contact [Sokubo@safewaternetwork.org].

About Safe Water Network

Co-founded in 2006 by the late actor and philanthropist Paul Newman, alongside John Whitehead and Josh Weston, Safe Water Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to overcoming the global water crisis through sustainable, market-driven solutions. Carrying forward Newman’s legacy priority to establish permanent access to safe water, the organization builds locally managed water systems and empowers communities with the technical and business training required to keep clean water flowing for generations. Learn more at safewaternetwork.org.

About Chris Williams

Chris Williams is the Chief Executive Officer of Safe Water Network. A veteran development practitioner with over three decades of international experience, Williams previously served as the Director of the New York Office of UN-Habitat, the United Nations agency responsible for affordable housing and sustainable urban development, and as the Executive Director of the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) in Geneva, Switzerland. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the New School for Social Research.

About Will Calhoun

Will Calhoun is a two-time Grammy Award-winning drummer, composer, and multimedia artist from the Bronx, New York. Best known as the co-founder of the groundbreaking rock band Living Colour, Calhoun’s extensive career spans rock, jazz, fusion, and world music, collaborating with artists such as B.B. King, Mick Jagger, and Pharoah Sanders. His passion for the intersection of rhythm and visual art drives his contemporary multimedia collections.

About Charles Kliment

Charles Kliment is a digital artist and software designer specializing in real-time generative visuals and interactive technologies. His work focuses on capturing the intangible energy of live instrumentation and translating audio frequencies into vibrant, evolving digital canvases.

The Purpose

Nearly 2 billion people worldwide lack safely managed drinking water. Safe Water Network works alongside communities to develop locally managed water systems designed to be reliable, financially sustainable, and built to last.

For one night, music, art, and purpose come together around a simple idea:

What does it take to create something that lasts?

A rhythm.

A work of art.

A safe water system.

Be in the Room

Your evening includes cocktails, an immersive live performance, and the opportunity to bid on original works by Will Calhoun.

And there’s one more surprise.

Every guest will automatically be entered for a chance to win a five-night stay for two at Drift Thelu Veliga Retreat in the Maldives, including full board.*

September 16, 2026

White Space Studio | Chelsea, New York

Show: 7:00PM–8:30 PM

One night. One performance. Limited space.

Come hear the music—and see what it becomes.

Sweeptakes terms, Transportation and applicable taxes are not included. Sweepstakes terms, eligibility requirements, and official rules apply.

Read the Official Contest Rules

WHAT DOES SOUND LOOK LIKE

An Immersive Evening of Art, Music, Impact. Featuring WILL CALHOUN

Team Members