A Gnu Alphabet is a process / game in which one authors the instructions for a new work based on freely available audio descriptions of prior art as recorded by an accredited institution. 

The Museum of Modern Art in New York has generously placed audio files on its website which serve as educational tools for the blind, those unable to visit in person, etc. These files contain detailed, vivid descriptions of works in the museum’s permanent collection. Using free software, these descriptions can be quickly broken apart and reassembled in such a way that new works are explained in the official, authoritative voice of MoMA.

For example, one audio file may describe a Rauschenberg assemblage as having “…a tire, paint, and wood…” whereas a description of say, a William Morris may include the phrase “…hanging loosely in the center of the wall…”. Together, these can be edited to form the sentence “A tire, hanging loosely in the center of the wall.” This wall-tire is your new work of art.

MoMA has an exceptional history of forging new paths in public education with regards to the arts. Additionally, from the recent Google / Verizon news, we know organizations are firmly aware of the high cost of bandwidth when hosting and transmitting multimedia. So MoMA, we can assume, has compressed descriptions of these works in such a way as to be maximally effective: high educational value and professionalism at minimal transmission cost. The source materials here represent the core concepts that have mattered most to the museum at various points in its prestigious history. What better material to build new works from?

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Please note that the provided sample, and sample pack were produced quickly after already overstaying my camping-time at a cafe. You can do better! Thanks to the fine folks at Alamo Sq. Cafe in SF. You’re soy late was pretty decent.

Audio files from MoMA 
Audacity: Free audio editing software
A sample of a new work
A sample sample-pack ( broken down audio clips)