8th Wonder, 2014

Michael Oatman - Burlington, USA
Brian Kane - Worcester, USA

Social Sculpture

In the tradition of drive-through redwoods and captured great white sharks, 8th Wonder is a photo op backdrop, a colossus for a new age and a love letter to that great North American huckster, P.T. Barnum.

What is it? Walk into Union Station and you’ll see passengers queuing for a different kind of travel. The 8th Wonder greets each and every traveler with an emanation of sound over a 12 hour journey from night to day.

What does it do? Viewers will be able to control certain visual aspects via smartphone and shape the very nature of their voyage. Come to Union Station for a different kind of departure. Let The 8th Wonder be your guide to novel sonic realms and unexpected visions. Sonic departures leaving every hour on the hour. You may still ask, what is it?

American artists Michael Oatman and Brian Kane have collaborated frequently since 1983, when they created ARTZAK. Kane's pioneering use of real-time video sampling techniques has been influential on a generation of media artists. Currently he teaches at the Rhode Island School of Design. Employing themes such as eugenics and science history, Oatman is best known for his large-scale installations, collages and videos. He teaches architecture at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.

88

Union Station (Great Hall)

65 Front Street West (Significant construction in the area - access via Front Street doors)

This project is indoors.