Rafael Lozano-Hemmer‘s public art piece Open Air has been making a big light-filled splash on the Ben Franklin Parkway since its launch Sept. 20. We spoke to Hemmer Aug. 23, before the 24-spotlights-triggered-by-iPhone-messages piece went live. Among other things we learned that Hemmer is an engineer with some theater in his background. You can participate in the project until Oct. 14, between 8pm-11pm nightly, by adding your message online or going down to the Parkway and voicing your message using the free downloadable iPhone app on your phone (download here) or on a phone loaned to you for that purpose, from a project kiosk on the Parkway. Open Air is sponsored by the Association for Public Art. You can find information on kiosk locations and background about the project on their website.
This episode is edited by Peter Crimmins. The music is by Eric Biondo. Thanks to the Knight Foundation for helping us get the ball rolling on this project. Thanks also to J-Lab‘s Enterprise Reporting Fund and William Penn Foundation for additional support and to our partner WHYY NewsWorks for their ongoing support. You can listen to Artblog Radio on Apple and Spotify.
