2014 Exhibition
24. Beacon
O, rise ! shine ! for thy lights a-coming
Verse from a spiritual sung on the Underground Railroad.
Beacon is an interactive installation. As a participant your movements affect the intensity of the light and sound emanating from the bell tower. More importantly, as more people gather and become more active, the light will move up the tower structure and the sound will become more complex. So gather your friends, your family, and strangers too. Use your power as a community to make the Beacon shine even brighter and sing even louder.
This piece is a collaboration between visual artist Megan Heeres, technologist Joel Hawkins, and sound artists Kido Pielack and Denis Rochac.
Heeres would like to give her unending thanks to: Jerry Belanger, Annmarie Borucki, Joel Hawkins, Midtown Detroit, Inc., Michael Olszewski, Kido Pielack, Denis Rochac, and the First Congregational Church community.
Sponsored by Fantasee Lighting
With Support from Monahan Construction
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Artist Information
Megan Heeres
Megan Heeres is a Detroit artist who makes sculptures and installations about interaction, chance, and materiality in an ever-changing world. She is thrilled to be collaborating with a great team in such an important historic site, tended by an inspiring community of people. Megan is represented by Re:View Contemporary Gallery in Detroit.
www.meganheeres.com
Joel Hawkins is a software guy who hails from the deep south. When not slinging code for his more artistic friends he spend his time cycling, restoring old English sports cars and keeping his historic home propped up.
Keyboardist Kido Pielack is a native Detroiter who’s influences range from classic Detroit techno to jazz, prog and ambient genres. “For this piece it has been fascinating exploring ways to place make with sound in the context of the church as well as ways to draw people into the space”.
Denis Alfonso Rochac from British Columbia, Canada has called Detroit home for the last 7 years. He is a community organizer, youth activist, educator, photographer, and music maker. Denis has been collaborating with Kido for the past two years on a variety of soundscapes. Listen to other sounds at soundcloud.com/denis-alfonso-rochac.