A collection of translucent plastic orbs that shine colored lights and make sound when touched are among the seven pieces of artwork that make up “Response is the Medium,” a new interactive exhibit in the Cameron Art Museum.
The exhibit is intended to not just be seen, but to be experienced. Each piece was created for audience interaction.
Art enthusiasts flocked to the museum Friday, Aug. 21, for the opening reception. The guests got hands-on with the exhibits and talked with the artists about their pieces.
New media artist Aaron Sherwood encouraged the visitors to create music with “MICRO.” The piece consists of 200 hanging translucent orbs, each containing a colored light and a speaker that are activated after being gently tapped.
One large orb flashed a white light and played a series of piano chords after a visitor struck it with her palm. A smaller orb flashed a red light and produced a sound similar to a violin.
Sherwood created “MICRO” with his partner, Japanese installation artist and performer/choreographer Kiori Kawai. The duo is known as Purring Tiger. Kawai designed “MICRO” and Sherwood built it.
“He does all the programming and engineering,” Kawai said.
On opening night, Kawai performed a dance within the exhibit, creating music by touching the orbs. Sherwood said Kawai’s dance moves inspired them to create touch-activated artwork.
“Our goal is to create an experience that will evoke childlike wonder,” Sherwood said. “We did that by interjecting a sense of touch.”
Metalsmith Gabriel Craig and composer Michael Remson also want people to create music with “Soundforge,” a large, xylophone-style sculpture that took two years to complete. The piece is composed of steel keys and more than a dozen hand-carved wooden mallets of different shapes and sizes. Visitors can engage in the work by striking the keys with the mallets.
Craig said the act is similar to the metalworking he does.
“When you’re hammering, you’re making metal and you’re creating sound,” Craig said.
Remson said he wanted all viewers to be comfortable playing the instrument-style sculpture, regardless of whether they’ve had formal musical training.
“We wanted people’s interactions with the piece to be organic,” Remson said.
He added that it’s impossible to hit a sour-sounding combination of notes on “Soundforge.”
“There’s a little secret — you can’t do anything wrong,” he said. “It’s a pentatonic scale in the key of F.”
Bob Unchester and Holly Tripman Fitzgerald, two members of the museum’s exhibitions and collections team, coordinated the interactive art show.
“This is the first time we have had an exhibit like this. We just felt that Wilmington was ready,” Fitzgerald said.
Anne Brennan, Cameron Art Museum executive director, explained the museum’s volunteer docents will contribute many hours to the exhibit, as it remains on display until Jan. 10, 2016.
“They will help this exhibit live on for 6,000 students, primarily in New Hanover County, this year,” Brennan said.
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