An “art project” promises to light up the Philadelphia sky — even more

Thu, Aug 30 2012 5:53 PM

Comments 3

Association for Public Art

An “electronic artist,” Rafael Lozano-Hammer, is planning to light up the sky over Philadelphia from September 20 through October 14, 2012, using an array of powerful searchlights. The so-called Open Air art project will employ 24 high-powered beams to create a movable art exhibit that will be visible from at least 10 miles (16 kilometers) away.

Is this art? What is it really accomplishing? We know that, as the International Dark-Sky Association phrases it, poor artificial night lighting not only obliterates viewing stars but also is wasteful in terms of energy, natural resources, and money.

Lozano-Hammer’s project will illuminate Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway with three-dimensional light formations along the roadway. “Participants” in the art project will be able to “use their voices and GPS positions to activate searchlights along a half-mile-long stretch of the roadway.” According to the project’s press materials, the light will “react” in brightness and position to each participant’s voice and words as they are spoken, creating a “canopy” of light over the city.

Certainly this project seems oblivious to science, pretentious, one could argue silly, and possibly even meaningless. In a world that seems increasingly ignorant of science and the importance of knowledge, ever more turned on to mindless entertainment 24 hours a day, this project fits right in.

It’s a shame that artists like Lozano-Hammer, who apparently has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, are so clueless to the ill effects their projects create, even as we all wonder what exactly this accomplishes for civilization anyway.

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Comments

soar2stars

Thu, Aug 30 2012 10:01 PM

"Open Air" is the worst example of a public art display because the artist deliberately designed it to involve public participation to directly pollute the night skies... targeted precisely in an environment where public education is desperately needed the most.... a light polluted city. A city also has the largest numbers of people that can be harmed by the light pollution. "Open Air" TEACHES PEOPLE TO POLLUTE the skies... and glorify it. There is NO JUSTIFICATION for this! ...at all!

Light pollution has been proven to be harmful to the health of people, the environment, the ecosystem. (See American Medical Association declaration June2012)

Light pollution is now considered a probable carcinogen equal to tobacco smoke. (See studies by Drs Blask, Brainard, and others)

Light pollution adds to air pollution. (See studies by Harald Stark)

Light pollution is turning the skies red at night. (See studies by Christopher Kyba)

Light pollution affects the city AND the skies around it for 10- 100 miles surrounding it.

Light pollution affects CHILDREN!!!

The artist has clearly stated that even though he is VERY aware of the issues of light pollution, he will continue to offer this harmful art display.

"Open Air" TEACHES people to light pollute.

I, and many others, are doing our best to teach people NOT to light pollute; volunteering our time and even dedicating our lives for the goal of starlight restoration for future generations. We are on totally opposite sides of the fence. I will do my very best to protest this art display.... to the point of buying a ticket to Philly and picket it myself.

I know that Mayor Nutter has a core goal to help Philly become the greenest city in the nation by 2015.

A GREEN city has a midnight BLUE starry night sky.

A GREEN city does NOT send light trespass for 10, 20, 50, 100 miles and more to their neighboring towns and natural areas.

A GREEN city will not TEACH people and encourage them to pollute the night skies.

Access to the visible Milky Way ought to reachable to within an easy hour drive of a GREEN city.

Sorry, but "Open Air" clearly does NOT fit this picture. By purposely designing public participation into this art project, "Open Air" teaches, encourages and rewards the public to pollute the skies... one spotlighted message at a time by the thousands at each exhibit. It is NO DIFFERENT than encouraging a thousand people to put their message in a thousand artistically painted bottles and throwing them all into lake, rivers or ocean. This sends a very BAD message, and is NOT environmentally friendly.

It is possible to achieve starlight over a city. 80% of light pollution is caused by poorly designed streetlights that sends light off-target and into the night sky and into driver's eyes.

The National Park Service studies predict by 2025 less than 10% of people in America will ever see a starry night sky even once in their LIFEtime. Other studies predict it will happen sooner because of the LEDs now being used in the high blue spectrum over 3000k. Kids (and most adults) can't even recognize a PHOTO of a starry night sky. Van Gogh's Starry Night is one of the most famous images in the world... how much has humanity been cheated by young artists not being exposed & inspired from a truly starry night sky?

I will contact schools and invite children around the world to send in their pictures that show why starlight is important to them. I would like to be able to show a slideshow of the children's work on a computer monitor or projection.

Yes, i am nervous about this... I feel a little like Lucy in the I Love Lucy series. But yet, I believe it is the right thing for me to do.

cheers+stars,

Audrey Fischer
soar2stars

Thu, Aug 30 2012 10:06 PM

A note to everyone who would like to see starlight restored: This is it.... the showdown. Starlight vs light pollution. I am in process of applying for a demonstration permit to picket the opening night of "Open Air" on Sept 20th. SEND in your photos of starry night skies... or of light pollution.... SEND in your letters. SEND in kid's drawings of why stars are important to kids.
anthony_sf

Fri, Sep 7 2012 9:57 PM

Thanks for publicizing the concerns about this art work, Dave. I hope every Astronomy reader will join and support the international dark sky association, darksky.org .

An “art project” promises to light up the Philadelphia sky — even more