Playing the Building with David Byrne

Playing the Building with David Byrne - Hack a Day

Creative Time presents Playing the Building, a 9,000-square-foot, interactive, site-specific installation by renowned artist David Byrne. The artist transforms the interior of the landmark Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan into a massive sound sculpture that all visitors are invited to sit and “play.” The project consists of a retrofitted antique organ, placed in the center of the building's cavernous second-floor gallery, that controls a series of devices attached to its structural features—metal beams, plumbing, electrical conduits, and heating and water pipes. These machines vibrate, strike, and blow across the building’s elements, triggering unique harmonics and producing finely tuned sounds.

Gotta love David Byrne (breakup of Talking Heads aside). Would love to see this installation in person. Not especially groundbreaking but like all good art it is about the experience and definitely a lot of fun. If you are in New York now through August 10th check it out. Otherwise take a look at the video.