Exhibit features twist on Christmas classics

Most everyone has created parody lyrics to a song at least once. But filmmaker Joseph Grigely, who recently opened an exhibit at the Orange County Museum of Art, turns the concept of misunderstanding words into an art form of its own.

Grigely’s installation “St. Cecilia” features two single-channel videos that show the Baltimore Choral Arts Society singing what appears to be the same song on each side of the screen. In fact, the choir is singing different lyrics — one the words to a famous Christmas carol, the other new lyrics penned by the deaf Grigely — with similar lip movements. Visitors can listen to either set of lyrics to appreciate the difficulties deaf people experience in trying to decipher speech.

The Orange County Museum of Art is at 850 San Clemente Drive.

Call (949) 759-1122 for more.

— Michael Miller