August
Where to connect with Connecting Light
Tonight (Friday, 31 August) and tomorrow (Saturday, 1 September) the digital art installation Connecting Light will take place along Hadrian's Wall.
Connecting Light, which was developed at Newcastle University's CultureLab, is designed by New York based digital arts collective YesYesNo with founding member Zachary Lieberman.
Zachary, who is a Visiting Professor at Newcastle, sees Connecting Lightturning Hadrian's Wall, one of the most significant structures of the Roman empire, as a bridge not a barrier allowing people to share their experiences and thoughts about the barriers, physical or emotional, in their lives today.
??Over 400 two metre diameter balloons will transmit messages between each other and internal LED lights will change colour in response, so the installation becomes a line of pulsating colours as messages travel through it.
You can get a sneak peak of Connecting Light here.
??A series of special viewing locations have been selected as the best places to get involved with the installation on the ground. These will have the highest density of balloons communicating between each other, and with the balloons right across the Wall. Installation 'connectors', selected from an open invitation extended to members of the public and communities within the World Heritage Site, will also be on hand to help visitors make the most of the experience and there will be easier access, parking and other facilities.
The installation will be visible between 8pm and 11pm.
??The locations – east to west – are:
?• Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths & Museum at Wallsend ?
• Steel Rigg/Once Brewed Visitor Centre
?• Walby Farm Park near Carlisle
• Carlisle Castle and Tullie House Museum
??For those with an adventurous spirit who wish to see Connecting Light independently, a recommended driving route will take visitors across the most dramatic sections of Hadrian's Wall past a long continual line of balloons.??
All the viewing locations will be free and non-ticketed. The best time to see Connecting Light will be in the evening as dusk falls from 8pm to 11pm.
??People can also connect across the world through www.connectinglight.info
??The installation promises to be one of the most spectacular projects of the London 2012 Festival, the 12-week UK-wide celebration running from 21 June until 9 September 2012 bringing together leading artists from across the world with the very best from the UK.??
Connecting Light was commissioned by LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) for the London 2012 Festival. It is being produced in partnership with the Hadrian's Wall Trust, the Cultural Olympiad programme in the North East and North West and local partners.??
Installation production is by Culture Creative and technical support is by Arciform. ??There are opportunities to be part of the technical team as a 'connector'.
The Hadrian's Wall Trust is looking for people to help set up the installation in the central sections of Hadrian's Wall. See www.hadrians-wall.org for more details and to apply. ??Connecting Light is also on Facebook and Twitter @ConnectingLight, #ConnectingLight.??
published on: 17 August 2012