August 21, 2012
Save The Date: The World Premiere Of “Open Air” – The Giant, Interactive 3-D Light Installation Coming To The Skies Above The Benjamin Franklin Parkway – Is Set For Thursday, September 20 At 7:30 P.M.
Open Air will consist of 24 powerful robotic searchlights placed along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway combining to create enormous three-dimensional light formations that will be visible in the night sky from as far as 10 miles away. (Simulated image of Open Air from the Parkway looking northwest toward the Philadelphia Museum of Art, courtesy the Association for Public Art)
A few months back, we first told you about the awesome new 3-D light installation that was coming to the skies above the Benjamin Franklin Parkway this September called “Open Air.” It’s a project commissioned by the Association for Public Art (aPA) — formerly the the Fairmount Park Art Association — in conjunction with both the 2012 Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and the 2012 Design Philadelphia Festival.
The “Open Air” installation is a pretty exciting temporary public art project that will allow residents and visitors to use their voices and GPS positions (via an app) to activate 24 powerful robotic searchlights placed along a half-mile section of the Parkway — creating enormous three-dimensional light formations in the night sky.
Open Air will run every night from September 20 to October 14 from 8-11 p.m. The project is going to debut on September 20 with an Opening Night Celebration during the 2012 Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe and run through October 14, the close of Design Philadelphia. A dedicated Open Air Project headquarters, with seating areas, installation information and mobile device loan stations, will be located at Eakins Oval (24th Street and the Parkway).
Opening Night Celebration
The Opening Night Celebration for Open Air will take place on September 20, 2012 from 7:30pm-11:00pm on the inner drive of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The event is free and open to the public and will include a selection of local food trucks, a live countdown and a ceremonial lighting, as well as a presentation by the artist and other special guests.
Stay tuned for a lot more about Open Air in the weeks leading up to its world premiere.
Thousands of individuals will be able to participate live during the Open Air installation, and tens of thousands more will experience the project as viewers. (Two simulated images of Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's Open Air installation from the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, courtesy the Association for Public Art)
Open Air
Where: Benjamin Franklin Parkway; Project Headquarters – 24th Street and the Parkway
When: September 20-October 14, nightly 8-11 p.m.; Opening Night Celebration – September 20, 7:30-11 p.m.
More info: www.associationforpublicart.org
Leave a comment with Facebook
Leave a comment directly on the blog (29 Blog Comments)
I applaud the visionaries! South Broad is a fine example of a great light show/street-scape without advertising.
For the next project, let’s taser the negative people in the Delaware Valley.
I MISS YOU PHILLY.. LOVE YOU..
I’ll be rhere trying to capture the show. Looks awesome..
Odd that I see no mention in the story about this taking place in the middle of migratation season and the potential disaster it present to night time migrating birds. While other cities, Chicago and Detroit, for example, have put programs in place to turn out the lights higher than 5 stories during migration season, Philly is going to blast “24 of the world’s brightest searchlights on the planet” into the night sky, which will be visible for 10 miles during the exact middle of migration. Genius. What’s a few thousand dead birds matter tho when you can have this cool “art”?
Hi Mark — That’s a great point. Actually the Association for Public Art is working with the Audubon Society to ensure that Open Air does not interfere with migration habits. It’s a very important part of the program’s strategy.
Allison, To clarify your point to Mark,
#1) Audubon is working with the artist to MINimize death rate and interference to bird migration…. but will not eliminate it.
#2) Who is looking out for the other nocturnal species and environmental consequences this light display will cause without a doubt?
#3) Good habit? to teach people that light pollution is OK? Some industries WANT people to keep believing that light pollution is perfectly acceptable. In fact, they have invested big $ in lawyers so they can keep profiting from light pollution (and i’m not referring to the artist) and have some non-for-profits wrapped around their little greedy fingers… at a major cost to society. Please just check the facts like i did for the past several years, and you will know. Maybe you might get fed up enough to do something about it too.
By “working with” they mean that they’ll use the project to study the effects of such projects on night time migrating birds (from their web site), which is to say that they don’t know what will happen. Interesting also that Chicago and Detroit have put a program in place to turn off upper floor building lighting at night to help save the migrating birds during the season. It’s called “Safe Passages Great Lakes”. An interesting concept to Philly’s abysmal attitude.
While it is true natural beauty isn’t a city’s perogative, EXTREME (amplified from its normal glaring rate) light pollution is disheartening to see… (&of course it comes with the burden of a negative impact on wildlife!) If you would like information about why a dark sky is beneficial please check out darksky.org – &would like to note I have no affiliation with the organization other than using it as a resource because I love nature and dark skies!! And bats, and lightning bugs, and the list goes on. In my lifetime I would rather not witness the decline or extinction to any type of life which is precious – Sometimes you don’t realize what you’ve got til it’s gone?!?!
Incidentally, Ben Franklin was a great lover of astronomy and the night sky, so is kind of ironic that this night sky elimination is taking place in Philadelphia on the Ben Franklin Parkway, no less.
Yes, Benjamin Franklin is rolling over in his grave! This is not at all what he would approve of. A badness and a waste of many things that Ben would find full of disdainful self indulgence. Check out this link to Ben’s own words and another link to how is coined “America’s first environmentalist”
first… http://www.farmersalmanac.com/astronomy/2008/03/03/ben-franklins-letter-to-the-editor-re-saving-daylight/
second… http://www.tchd.org/benfranklin.htm
These are just the tip of an iceberg for a Titanic idea headed straight into the ditch. Sorry to say….
If this is the future, the future will be short, and all will suffer… We cannot continue to ignore the truth about our negative impact on our fragile Planet. As David Attenborough has plainly shown that the facts are dismal if we do not get our heads out of the sand. Surely, we must quit taking it in the you-know-what.. Respectfully and without ill-will
A dark sky with bright stars is good! There is nothing like a little starlight to brighten your day, if you know what I mean….
Twenty-four searchlights, pointing up, polluting what little is left of the Philadelphia night skies for a 10 mile radius from its point of origin on the Parkway for almost four weeks, every night, is not an encouraging overture “to save public space to bring it back to the public,” as Lozano-Hemmer claims for his Open Air Project. His opinion, that the Open Air Project will present a minimum impact to migratory birds, by referencing a consultation with the Pennsylvania Audubon Society, reflects a token respect to the environmental concerns of local citizens. It reveals a near complete lack of understanding of the growing body of scientific evidence supporting the preservation of the night sky, not just for its natural beauty, but to prevent the disruption of circadian rhythms of animals (and humans), eliminating wasted energy and preserving natural resources.
It is an affront to all who appreciate the inspiring sweep of the night sky and to the efforts of those who are working to preserve it. The International Dark Sky Association and locally, the Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting Council, presently are engaged in preserving the night sky in areas not far from Philadelphia. The affront is extended to the townships and the suburban counties surrounding Philadelphia that have adapted outdoor lighting ordinances and have initiated good lighting practices specifically for the aforementioned purposes.
Lozano-Hemmer’s insensitivity, as an artist, is inexcusable, despite his claims of minimal environmental impact and a professed appreciation of the night sky. His statement about the event, “… that messages will only be censored through crowd-sourcing on the website ‘Moronic content is important because this is a public space’… ” is a justification only for the lowest forms of expression.
Substantial financial resources were dedicated to the Open Air Project. The human resources associated with it should utilize more imagination. The public benefits of the night sky can be better realized by reducing unnecessary artificial light within the city which is the best place to start. There are organizations that help educate the public about suppressing unnecessary light.
Consider coordinating efforts with Philadelphia’s urban and suburban astronomy clubs, similar to what Dr. Derrick Pitts of the Franklin Institute pursues several times a year, with a greater endeavor and a grander scale. Such programs help engage and inform the public about what the non-light polluted night sky offers to all, a light show that is free to everyone.
Please, Knight Foundation, in the future, consider the full impact of how your donated dollars are spent.
I’d think people so worried about light pollution would spend more time focused on street lamps and other lights then a temp art exhibit. As for the birds, is there any proof this will actually harm them any more then the airport lights a few miles away? The airport next to a thriving MIGRATORY BIRD SANCTUARY?
Light pollution isn’t only harmful to wildlife, there’s growing evidence that it’s a public health menace. Open Air trivializes a very serious problem. Lozano-Hemmer claims to be concerned about the environmental impact of his outdoor light projects, but this isn’t substantiated by real action on his part. Look closely at the description under the “Environment” heading at the Open Air web site and you will find misleading material about the light pollution contributed by the project and what amounts to an admission that the project will serve as an experiment to determine how much harm it will do to wildlife. The night sky belongs to all of us. It isn’t an artist’s private canvas.
Actually, Actually from Philly, we do! We fight tooth and nail against electronic bill boards that beam all night to sell you a car. We fight city hall to turn off un-needed public facility lights that burn tax dollars all night wasting our precious oil. We fight big light bomb mercury vapor lighting on car dealer sites that suck bread-basket insects out of the night sky and starve bat populations and thwart night critters normal habits, and with the overwhelming new evidence coming from the American Medical Association about the connection to cancer and over use of un-needed light. We fight all the time as the battle is consistent and pervasive! The problem continues to grow and I sure do wish Ben Franklin could stand up and let everyone have a piece of his mind. Being from Philly and all, how would you take his scolding? And, don’t you know, we know, “waste not want not” “Penny saved” “Early to bed” etc….etc.
What’s with all these crazy light pollution people? Are you guys serious? It’s a temporary light installation in a major city. Get over it.
“Night Lights Turned Off To Save Migrating Birds”
http://www.livescience.com/7533-night-lights-turned-save-migrating-birds.html
Ecology and Society, “Green Light for Nocturnally Migrating Birds”
http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol13/iss2/art47/
National Geographic, “Light Pollution Taking Toll on Wildlife”
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0417_030417_tvlightpollution.html
Artificial lighting seems to be taking the largest toll on bird populations. Nocturnal birds use the moon and stars for navigation during their bi-annual migrations.
“When they fly through a brightly-lit area, they become disoriented,” said Michael Mesure, executive director of the Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP), a Toronto-based environmental organization. The birds often crash into brilliantly-lit broadcast towers or buildings, or circle them until they drop from exhaustion.
New York Department of Conservation, “Night Lights – Too Much of a Good Thing?”
http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/60017.html
These light shows happen every night in Disney world. I don’t think that the greatest place on earth would be doing these light shows if it killed wildlife!
“These light shows happen every night in Disney world. I don’t think that the greatest place on earth would be doing these light shows if it killed wildlife!”
Oh, of course, how silly to raise these issues. I guess all of the science and facts are wrong and Disney is right…
Anyhow, just because something is being or has been done, such as building airports in migration paths and Disney mega-light shows, certainly does not make it correct or moral.
And Disney is now the GREATEST place on Earth? Wow. I thought it was just the happiest place.
Mark, commenting 4 times in a row is a little…inappropriate and ridiculous. Smoosh all your crazy light pollution stuff into one comment next time.
Oh, sorry Samantha. I didn’t realize that you were in charge here…
ignorance [ˈɪgnərəns]
lack of knowledge, information, or education; the state of being ignorant
Follow this link to read the project’s environmental statement http://openairphilly.net/environment
To me it looks like they have done a much better study than even permanent installations get!
Samantha, it’s inappropriate and ridiculous to label people “crazy” when they’re trying to warn others that light pollution poses a public health risk and is harmful to wildlife. I wish you’d read up on the subject. We could use your help.
Samantha, It’s inappropriate and ridiculous to hurl insults with your 1st two posts, and even comment on a subject that you nothing about. Push yourself away from the Twinkies and the remote for a while and read something meaningful (and I don’t mean Facebook or Cosmo)…
You’re saying that you believe that National Geographic and the New York Department of Conservation are crazy? I guess ignorance truly is bliss. 100 years of research on the subject demolished by 2 seconds of Samantha’s blazing intellect.
This is definitely impacting the bird migration. Just picked up a little warbler on Market Street early this morning….it was just totally dazed, sitting on the sidewalk; people walking around it—bikes just missing it….brought it into work and the little guy is coming around nicely. Will bring home and release tonight….but hope he can stay away from Philadelphia….