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A new multimedia experience has begun at Artpark. (Image by Jordan Oscar)
A new multimedia experience has begun at Artpark. (Image by Jordan Oscar)

Artpark announces launch of 'Cover The Water' by The Holladay Brothers

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Mon, Aug 10th 2020 05:05 pm

New location-aware music composition available via free mobile app download offers Artpark visitors an interactive sonic celebration of the beauty, topography & history of Artpark 

Artpark & Company announces “Cover The Water,” a new site-specific composition by acclaimed multimedia artists and composers The Holladay Brothers. Visitors are able to experience the work while at Artpark via free mobile app available now for download for Apple and coming soon for Google Play/Android devices.

The collaboration is made possible in part by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts.

A location-aware composition, “Cover The Water,” is an interactive sonic celebration of the beauty, topography and history of Artpark. The work utilizes GPS and other dynamic data from the user’s mobile device to enable them to traverse a sonic work comprised of hundreds of musical motifs, field recordings and other nodes of sound that dovetail into one another. The piece evolves differently depending on the user’s chosen speed, path and location in the park.

Ryan and Hays Holladay said, "While this is not the first in our series of location-aware compositions, it is the first since the coronavirus outbreak. In jarring fashion, our use of shared space has been altered dramatically and so many of the activities that connect us have been put on hiatus. We’re interested in the idea of using what may inevitably be a solitary pursuit and allowing the user to contribute from within the app to a larger tapestry. How can we create the feeling of humanity and connectedness within this new reality?”

A press release said, “The Holladay Brothers create innovative music experiences that celebrate the act of discovery. With a shared background in composition and music production, their projects span a range of fields and disciplines and frequently invite user interaction, blurring the lines between performer and participant. From sound and video installations to mobile apps, their expansive body of work represents an intricate blend of art and technology that reimagines how we interact with and experience sound.”

The Holladay Brothers have garnered critical acclaim as sound pioneers and multi-dimensional storytellers. Their first production, “The National Mall,” a location-aware album mapped to the eponymous park in Washington, D.C., was described by the Washington Post as “magical … like using GPS to navigate a dream.” It was included in the publication’s list of the year’s top albums (a first for an app).

Hays and Ryan have since gone on to create similar works for New York’s Central Park, SXSW Interactive (Austin, Texas), and other sites around the world, partnering with groups such as IBM and the U.S. State Department in the process. As a senior TED fellow, Ryan spoke about the project at the annual TED Conference.

Click here to learn more about the duo.

This program joins a robust season of Artpark programming adapted for COVID-19, yet still offering a multitude of meaningful and enjoyable ways for the public to experience the state park. These programs include the “Music in the Woods” series, “The Art of Walking,” the Fairy House Festival, and drive-in films. Artpark also offers public art installations, the Percussion Garden, Native American Peace Garden, walking trails, fishing, and other opportunities for recreation and relaxation open daily from dawn until dusk.

Patrons are also encouraged to join “Artpark Live: A campaign for a vibrant future.” Tax-deductible contributions help the nonprofit Artpark & Company continue its mission to create, nurture and present the arts. Visit www.artpark.net for further information.

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