Artists have transformed the Fitzgerald’s Park folly into a musical magic lantern
Brought to you by Sample Studios.
It’s always an enchanting spot for a winter stroll.
But this Christmas, there’s an extra special reason to bring the gang to Fitzgerald’s Park.
Artists Anne Cleary and Denis Connolly have been working with the Cork Youth Orchestra (CYO) and Sample-Studios to produce a cutting-edge work of art that has transformed the Lord Mayor’s Pavilion into a ‘musical magic lantern’.
As part of the project, which opens to the public this Friday, four members of the Siciliana quartet performed the fourth movement from Dvorak’s ‘American quartet’, directed by Tomás McCarthy, conductor of CYO, while wearing sensors on various points on their body.
Here’s a peek at how it all came together:
The creators used innovative motion capture technology to track the complex movements of the hands of musicians as they practice their art.
‘The Music Box’ turns the young musicians’ movements into luminous dots that dance in time to the music, describing the movements with loops and whirls.
“The lyrical movements of musicians has been an evolving theme in our work for many years,” said Cleary.
“We have dreamed of composing a full orchestra entirely made of dots to make these movements visible to others. It is such a fabulous opportunity to work with CYO and Sample-Studios this winter to bring us a step closer to our dream.”
Artist Denis Connolly of Cleary Connolly prepares the exhibition ‘The Music Box’ presented by Sample-Studios. Photo: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision
The project was made possible by the support of the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund.
“We are proud to support Sample-Studios in presenting Cleary Connolly’s ‘The Music Box’ as part of the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund in partnership with Business to Arts.” added Louise O’Reilly, Chief Executive of Business to Arts.
“The Begin Together Arts Fund is a vital source of private sector funding for the arts. The projects funded demonstrate the adaptability and resilience of Ireland’s arts sector. Business to Arts is proud to work in partnership with Bank of Ireland to reach more communities and help realise quality arts experiences for people across the island of Ireland.”
Launching this Friday, December 9th, 2022, the artwork will remain on view in the Lord Mayor’s Pavilion in Fitzgerald Park over the Christmas period until January 21st, 2023.
Main image: Artist Denis Connolly of Cleary Connolly and Sample-Studios Facilities Coordinator
Kevin O’Keeffe prepare the exhibition ‘The Music Box’. Image: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision
