A project for the Festival of Lights, New Plymouth
Bird Song Light Walk was commissioned by the 2016/2017 Festival of Lights in Nga Motu New Plymouth Aotearoa New Zealand. This is one of Aotearoa's oldest light festivals. Six motion activated units are suspended in the trees above. Once activated, the units play their assigned bird song and algorithmically programmed LEDs display the bird call.
There are six units: Ruru (owl); Whio (blue duck); Kokako; Kiwi; Riroriro (Grey Warbler); and Tui. Thanks to the Department of Conservation and Les McPherson of Archive Birds NZ for the audio. The programming was by John Christini; Deon Roodt and Nicole Clemance were artist assistants. Rivet cut the custom made internal sheaths using their Rivetnuts product. Each unit consists of dual speakers, with 3 pairs of LED strings giving a total of 72 LEDs per unit.
In many ways people living in the suburbs and cities have become distanced from wildlife. Although the kiwi is the national bird of this country, there will be many New Zealanders that have never hear the kiwi call. This project aimed to provide a link to our birds and environment in a way the re-kindles interest, or establishes interest in children.
Thanks to the NPDC team and MJF lighting for the install.