Project Summary
A carillon is a collection of bells suspended in a tower and played with a series of keyboards or levers. This project creates an interactive carillon on playa with 100 bells controlled by a series of levers and ropes. Participants enter the structure and work together to make carol of the bells.
Physical Description
Carillon is contained in a 36' tall wood structure covered in slat wood panels. It has a 12' square base and participants can enter the structure at the ground level. There they encounter levers, ropes, and a spinning pole. All of these devices control one or a series of bells each ringing a special note. The main tower is pyramidal in shape, but has a two pronged spire at the top. The panels that make up the exterior are made from recycled plywood slats arrayed to make an ornate pattern. This pattern filters light to make tower glow from the inside out. All of the wood will receive a medium toast with a roofing torch. This will make the wood appear dark and aged. The panels have the appearance of a fishbone or porcupine. This is intended to five the tower a fuzzy appearance from the outside while filtering light on the inside.
Interactivity
When participants approach carillon, they will hear the ringing of the bells and be drawn inside. The main interaction is with ringing the bells. This can be done using one of three methods. First, there are the small aluminum bells. There are 72 of these, in 12 groups of six. So up to 12 participants can pull the lever and strike their collection of bells. This can be done with a tempo or rhythm to create a melody. Second, there is a steel pole in the center of carillon that takes at least 2 people to spin. This pole controls a series of hammers in the mid level of the tower that will strike the 16 medium sized steel bells. The faster they spin, the faster the bells ring. Finally there are three large steel a bronze bells that can be rung by pulling ropes. These are meant to punctuate the other bells and will be the loudest of all. The challenge for participants will be to coordinate to play the entire art piece in unison to make a melody.
Philosophy of Piece
Carillon will be made from mostly recycled materials. The philosophy of this piece is that something beautiful can come from material that would otherwise be discarded. This will be most clear in the decision to use used SCUBA and welding gas tanks as bells. This will also be apparent in the decision to char the slat panels and structural framing. Rather that appear fresh and new, carillon will seem weathered and ancient. This age will also be reflected in the sound. There is something primal in a bell's ring. And it eventually dims to silence. When the reclaimed materials combine with the participant's actions to ring the bells, the whole space will come alive with collective creativity. My hope is that this piece shows participants that beauty can come from something old and worn, not just bright and new.
