I hope Chris Kaczmarek’s Solar Symphony installation is set up in a quiet spot at Maker Faire New York. The sounds, triggered by variations in ambient light intensity, are eerie and probably best enjoyed in a quiet environment. Even so, the electromechanical instruments are fun to watch.
This project consists of separate solar circuits that store energy and trigger motors and electronic oscillators in an arrhythmic sequence which is regulated both by the amount of light in the room and by variances in the individual circuits. Placed in an environment with variable lighting, the changing frequency of the incidents becomes an audible reminder of the often overlooked and ever changing energy that surrounds us.
This is an installation of five of the preliminary sound objects created for the Solar Symphony in the Passage Gallery at Purchase College. This installation was undertaken to experiment with the use of lighting as a “tuning” aspect, and to examine questions of scale and placement.
Maker Faire Project Profile
Solar Symphony
Employing solar cells as the energy source, I have created a symphony of solar powered electronic and kinetic audio objects that can be used in multiple installation formats. These installations become the basis for on the spot educational interactions on solar energy, DIY electronics and kinetic sound art. Simplicity, availability, and elegance are the hallmark of solar power. Being powered by light energy, the works reflect these values in both materials and style. Each solar powered sound object has a different visual character and method of producing sound- from a simple oscillator chirping like a digital bird, to a the Read more →
