Spontaneous Order – the rhythm of fireflies is an immersive experience inspired by the wonder of watching fireflies in nature that opens at Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh on Friday, September 13, at 10:00 AM.
Spontaneous Order – the rhythm of fireflies is created in collaboration with artist Sally Weber and optical innovator Craig Newswanger, founders of Resonance Studio of Oakland, CA.
Two hundred jars suspended from the ceiling blink randomly with a golden glow like individual fireflies. When the light from one jar recognizes one glowing nearby through photo sensors, their blinking gradually synchronizes and the lights turn blue. Watch in wonder as the light shifts from blue to gold along a 50-foot stretch of ceiling and back again, creating luminous patterns. The experience includes a custom summer soundscape and resources on how to be firefly “friendly” in our daily lives. The exhibit is open through January 5, 2025.
“This is a wonderful melding of art and technology with the beauty and magic of nature,” says Anne Fullenkamp, Sr. Director of Creative Experiences at the Children’s Museum. “It takes captivating memories from childhood and brings them to a new level.”
New art works by the 2024 Tough Artists in Residence can also be explored in MuseumLab starting on Saturday, September 14, at noon. The Tough Art residency, now in its eighteenth year, brings artists to work collaboratively with Children’s Museum staff each summer to create engaging works of art that are tough enough to withstand public interaction, especially that of children.
This year’s Tough Artists are: Bryce Li, an interactive experience designer from the San Francisco-Bay area; Sydney Parcell, an emerging multimedia artist from Miami; and La Vispera, an art collective by Colombian artists Kelly Jiménez and Alejandro Franco who specialize in found/discarded art assemblages.
Be sure to check the Museum’s website for the latest hours when planning your visit.
