Bastion Square Parkade now provides an unexpected interactive musical experience for those coming and going, or looking for fun downtown. Local artists Scott Amos and David Parfit were selected in the City’s Art on Parkades competition to create an interactive musical railing to enhance the parking facility.
To create a playful musical experience for visitors, the parkade’s back stairwell has been turned into a five-storey musical instrument by installing sensors that create different sound and light effects on each of the landings.
When hands touch the railing sensors, sounds play through speakers on each level and LED lights illuminate, creating a unique experience for those who take the stairs. Lighting effects are more visible at night.
Award-winning filmmaker and media artist Scott Amos and composer, sound designer and software engineer David Parfit have worked together at Monkey C Interactive to create nearly a dozen interactive installations.
Currently, the railings have sounds created by local artists Jules Uno and David Parfit, and France-based artist CloZee. Over time, the programmed sounds will be changed to create different sonic experiences and there is the potential to invite local musicians or poets to create sounds for each flight of stairs.
Artists Scott and David will be hanging out at the stairwell on Saturday, July 30, from 6 pm to 8pm to answer any questions.
