Hope Street Project Concert 27/11/08

We would like to invite you to a concert that concludes our project as follows:

Simultaneous Concert In Liverpool Cathedral and Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
Thursday 27th November 2008
7.30 - 8.30pm
Admission Free

We look forward to seeing you on the night!

For the past two months sound artist Peter Appleton has turned the awesome enormity of Liverpool’s two cathedrals into a delicately resonating sound installation. This is a new kind of public instrument. In response, writer Colin Dilnot has brought together the voices of the people of Liverpool. Their speaking breathes life into the instrument. Now composer Simon Thorne creates a live performance of spectacular audacity. The two buildings sing to each other.

Two choirs, one in each space, create an elegiac tapestry of voices. They are responding to the installation, and also to the unique acoustic properties of each architecture. A laser link makes for the possibility of live transmission between the two spaces. So the singers give voice to a slowly unfolding harmony that is the unique resonance of both spaces as they vibrate in tune with each other. The outcome is an experience of listening that is a profound and inspirational testament to the dignity of our shared humanity.

Colin Dilnot
Hope Street Project
Office 0151 639 8496
Mobile 07766 888 320
http://www.myspace.com/hopestreetproject
http://hopestreetproject.blogspot.com

The Long Night Of The Biennial 30/10/08

As we have mentioned in a previous post, The Hope Street Project are participating in the above.

Here is a press release abot the whole night:

WELCOME TO THE LIVERPOOL GALLERIES’ FIRST LONG NIGHT
The Long Night of the Biennial
Thursday 30 October 2008

Night-time Liverpool will be transformed as an unprecedented number of the city’s galleries will keep their doors open to the public, some until 11.00pm. A nocturnal feast of art, events, music, film and performance will give visitors a very special experience of the visual arts in Liverpool during the Long Night of the Biennial on Thursday 30 October 2008.

Come straight from work, join in the debate, do the tours, wear the glowstick, eat & meet, watch it all happen, and enjoy Liverpool’s favourite and up and coming studios and galleries.

FREE TOURS

Special torch lit walking tours will add an enchanting dimension to the experience of viewing works outside the usual gallery spaces – half hourly between 7.00 & 10.00pm from the Liverpool Biennial 2008 Visitor Centre on Lime Street. You can pre book on 08452 202 800

Merseytravel’s Tunnel Tours team will host two tours of George’s Dock Ventilation Building at the Pier Head – at 6.00pm and 7.30pm. Pre book the free one-hour tours on 0151 236 8602 ext 204.

MUSIC

It’s the opening night of Liverpool Music Week, and there will be free live music in many galleries including The Walker Art Gallery, the Bluecoat, FACT, Tate Liverpool, Red Wire, CUC, View Two and 3345 Parr St.

TALKS

Pre-booking is recommended for Biennial artist Luisa Lambri’s talk at Tate Liverpool and the Le Corbusier debate, but just turn up before 6.30pm to hear Juan Cruz (Head of Art, Liverpool School of Art and Design) at The Royal Standard.

FILM

There will be an outdoor projection on the east wall of Merseytravel’s Georges Dock Building, plus films at the Bluecoat, FACT, Open Eye, Tate Liverpool, and on the BBC Big Screen.

Free Bus travel for 08 card holders

Merseytravel is also supporting the Long Night of the Biennial with a special deal on the S1 bus. Visitors can take advantage of the S1 bus, which takes a ‘cultural circuit’ around the city centre from 6.00pm-11.00pm. The service will be free to all passengers producing an ‘08 card from 6.00pm on the day.

Eating & Meeting

Take your pick from a whole variety of gallery choices to meet and eat during the evening.

The Long Night List

Galleries, studios and organisations involved are Liverpool Biennial 2008, the Bluecoat, FACT, Open Eye Gallery, Tate Liverpool, The Walker Art Gallery, A Foundation, Arena Art & Design Association, BBC Big Screen, Black-E, Bluecoat Display Centre, The Bridewell Gallery, CCP Car Park, Ceri Hand Gallery, Contemporary Urban Centre, Curve Gallery, dot-art, Merseytravel’s Georges Dock Building, Hope Street Project, Metropolitan Cathedral Crypt, Red Wire, The Royal Standard, Static Trading Co., St Georges Hall Visitor Centre, Victoria Gallery and Museum, View Two Gallery, Wolstenholme Projects, 3345 Parr Street.

Please visit www.biennial.com/longnight for full programme details or pick up a brochure on 30 October.

Hope Street Project Goes Live 29/10/08

The project will go live on the 29th October. You will be able to hear the voices we have collected in recent weeks to transmit between the 2 Cathedrals as well as being able to contribute your own voice if you so wish.

Here are details of the project when it goes live:

The project uses two lasers - one visible during hours of darkness and the second an invisible beam carrying voices and sounds between the two Cathedrals.

Voices travel as light down Hope Street. The voices also vibrate the strings of a guitar creating a chordal and harmonic backdrop to the delicate tapestry of voices. The overall sound created will offer a gentle and discreet ambience for reflection and contemplation.


Visitors to the Cathedrals will be able to hear the sounds created by the installation in both Cathedrals as follows:

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral: Holy Oils Chapel

Liverpool Cathedral: Main Body of Cathedral

Wednesday 29/10/08 2.00 - 3.00pm
Tuesday 4/11/08 2.00 - 3.00pm
Thursday 6/11/08 2.00 - 3.00pm
Saturday 8/11/08 5.00 - 6.00pm
Wednesday 12/11/08 2.00 - 3.00pm
Friday 14/11/08 2.00 - 3.00pm
Saturday 15/11/08 5.00 - 6.00pm
Thursday 20/11/08 2.00 - 3.00pm
Saturday 22/11/08 5.00 - 6.00pm
Wednesday 26/11/08 2.00 - 3.00pm

If you would like to add your voice to the project during your visit to the Cathedrals then you will be able to contact a member of the project as follows:

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral: Adjacent Chapel Of Oils

Liverpool Cathedral: Opposite Derby Transept

What we would like you to give us is your answer to the following question:

What do you hope for in life?

Your response can be a word, a phrase, a sentence or a short poem.

You will be able to record the answer at an open microphone and hear your response join the other voices being transmitted between the 2 Cathedrals.

Hope Street Project Launch 28/10/08

If you are reading this post then we invite you to our launch as follows:

Voices Travel As Light Down Hope Street 28th October 2008

Opening at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral at 6.00pm

The audience will be able to hear the voices collected by the project in a soundscape within the Cathedral's space during a simultaneous transmission to Liverpool Cathedral

Move on to Liverpool Cathedral approx. 6.20pm

The audience will be able to view the visible laser connecting Liverpool's two Cathedrals as they walk along Hope Street to Liverpool Cathedral.

Opening at Liverpool Cathedral at approx. 6.30pm

The audience will be able to hear the voices collected by the project in a soundscape within the Cathedral's space during a simultaneous transmission to Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.

Event Closes at 7.30pm

I look forward to meeting you on the night.

Hope Street @ The Bluecoat Liverpool 25/10/08

If you are in town tomorrow then why not drop by and meet us at The Bluecoat!

Hope Street Project @ The Bluecoat 25/10/08
Voices Travel As Light Down Hope Street
The Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool, L1

Please turn up anytime between 11.00am and 4.00pm and add your voice to our project.

Record your words and phrases of hope. Recordings will take place in the Hub

Hope Street @ The Long Night Of The Biennial 30/10/08

The Hope Street Project is participating in the Long Night Of The Biennial which is being held in Liverpool on 30/10/08 as follows:

Hope Street Project @ Long Night Of The Biennial 30/10/08
Voices Travel As Light Down Hope Street
Lecture Theatre, John Moores University, 68 Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9HW

Turn up anytime between 7.00 and 9.00pm and add your voice to our project. Record your words and phrases during the Long Night of the Biennial. Recordings will take place in the historic lecture theatre where John Lennon studied art in Liverpool.

Check out the Long Night Of The Biennial website for full details of the action packed evening for art in Liverpool.

Hope Street Project @ 68 Hope Street 23/10/08

Voices Travel As Light Down Hope Street Thursday 23rd October 2008

Lecture Theatre, John Moores University, 68 Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9HW

Turn up anytime between 7.00 and 9.00pm

Add your voice to our project. Record your words and phrases on the night. Recordings will take place in the historic lecture theatre where John Lennon studied art in Liverpool.

Cheers and look forward to meeting you on the night.

Colin
Hope Street Project

Festival of light to shine on River Mersey

30/9/08 Liza Williams Daily Post

EIGHT of the most innovative lighting designers in the world are coming to Liverpool this October to create a month-long festival of light spanning the River Mersey.

The Pool of Light is the most ambitious project of its type undertaken by the Professional Lighting Designers’ Association (PLDA) and has been organised by Liverpool Vision.

The designers will lead teams of volunteers from all over the world – including people from Liverpool – and within workshops they will design and create lighting ideas concentrating on seven real locations in the city centre and Wirral.

The temporary lighting installations are delivered from scratch in just one week, and will be linked by a specially illuminated Mersey ferry.

The lighting designers, from countries including the US, Germany and Sweden have already visited the city touring the locations to ensure their talent and experience can create the greatest visual impact.

Ian McCarthy, programme director at Liverpool Vision, said: “The Pool of Light is about Liverpool having the confidence to show itself off. Lighting is now recognised as important in making towns and cities better places and Liverpool has done much in recent times to make the city attractive at night.

“The extension of the working day, the blurring of the distinction between work and leisure time and the gradual shift towards the 24-hour city mean that lighting towns and cities is increasingly important.

“This festival will emphasise the benefits of lighting in making the most of our architectural heritage and how we are blending the old with the new in Liverpool.”

Five of the lighting schemes will be in and around Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle and the other two will be at Hamilton Square, Birkenhead, and at the ventilation shaft at Seacombe.

In addition, lighting events in this year’s Liverpool Biennial will play a part in adding to the night-time colour of the city, including the Hope Street Project, an art installation linking Liverpool's two cathedrals with lasers.

The switch-on on October 31 coincides with the Pool of Light – Light and Scale Conference which will examine the importance of good architectural lighting and describe the workshop schemes and involve high-profile keynote speakers.

Guided walking tours will be available to the public from November 1. Cllr Jean Stapleton, Wirral’s cabinet member for regeneration and planning strategy, said: “We have been working closely with colleagues in Liverpool on this project.

“Wirral and Liverpool will be linked at night by a specially lit ferry creating a beautiful spectacle on one of the greatest cultural attractions across the River Mersey, which is our most famous gateway.”

Cllr Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City Council, added: “The Pool of Light should bring the wow factor again towards the end of our successful year as European Capital of Culture.

“This festival will also enhance our growing international reputation for imaginative lighting of our landmark buildings, but importantly this is also an inclusive project and our residents will also see the benefits imaginative lighting can bring.”

FOR further information on the Pool of Light, or to get involved,

visit www.pool-of-light.co.uk

lizawilliams@dailypost.co.uk

Liverpool Cathedrals’ laser link-up conveys hopes for future

Vicky Anderson Daily Post 1/1/08

THERE’S much more to the striking ray of green light that has appeared in Liverpool’s night sky than meets the eye – or even ear.

Hundreds of people have already become involved in the Hope Street Project, of which the laser beaming between the city’s two cathedrals is the most visual part.

Alongside it is an invisible beam that will transmit sound between the two cathedrals for visitors in each to hear, specifically, the voices of the people of Liverpool.

Peter Appleton and Colin Dilnot, the team behind the installation, are currently recording people of all ages and back- grounds speaking a word, phrase or poem in response to the question "what do you hope for in life?"

They have held open days in arts venues including the Fact centre and invited primary schools, faith groups and community groups in the area to take part.

Following on from the collection of voices, the resulting recorded sounds travelling along the invisible beam will vibrate the strings of a guitar, creating a harmonic backdrop to the soft tapestry of voices which will be heard in both cathedrals at designated times, with the aim of creating a contemplative atmosphere.

The finished aural project will be launched for the public to hear on October 29 between 2pm and 3pm and on several other days for an hour at a time before the end of the project.

The project will climax with a concert on November 27 that will be heard in both cathedrals, using the voices and a special choral work being composed by musician Simon Thorn.

The laser was launched to tie in with the Biennial and has so far been the focal point – and it is just the beginning.

There will still be opportunities to add a voice at occasions including the special Long Night of the Biennial on October 30 at 68 Hope Street (John Moores University).

"It seems to have captured people’s imaginations, as it is a work of art that people can actually get involved in and play a major part in it by leaving their voices, said Mr Dilnot.

"We wanted to try and approach as many different people as possible."

vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk

Ray Of Hope

Catherine Jones 19/9/08 Ray Of Hope Liverpool Echo

A LASER beam of light is linking the towers of Liverpool's two cathedrals.

Final tests were carried out this week and the laser was officially turned on for the first time last night.

It can be seen at night, with the green beam particularly clear on misty or rainy evenings, until the end of November as part of the Independents section of the Liverpool Biennial.

One of the best vantage points will be on the steps of the Metropolitan cathedral.

Artists behind the Hope Street Project say they hope it will "be perceived as a valuable contribution to the social and spiritual resonance of Liverpool 2008."

The project uses two lasers – one visible during hours of darkness and the second an invisible beam carrying voices and sounds along Hope Street.

And organisers are looking for Liverpudlians to take part in the installation.

The project manager, Wirral artist and writer Colin Dilnot, said: "We're in the process of collecting voices which will be carried along the second laser and we're looking for people to take part.

"We also want to encourage schools and community groups to get involved.

"There will be times during the week and weekend when if you go into either cathedral you'll be able to hear the sounds we've collected.

"We're going to put the voices through the strings of a guitar and because everyone is different, it will create a harmonic sound."

The Hope Street Project is the third phase of a series of installations by artist and musician Peter Appleton and composer Simon Thorne.

The others were at Cardiff's Old Library and at Manchester Futuresonic.

The project will culminate with a simultaneous concert in the cathedrals involving local choirs on November 27.

catherinejones@liverpoolecho.co.uk

Laser Switch On

We switched the visible laser on during the evening of the 19/9/08 to coincide with the opening of the Liverpool Biennial 2008.

We have had lots of positive feedback since we went live with project and the laser has become a regular spectacle for visitors to the Hope Street area.

The laser is currently visible every night from 7.30pm until Midnight.

AudioVision @ Mersey Air Vent, Mann Island Liverpool 20th September 2008

Hannah Peel from Kinetic Fallacy has invited the Project down to the following event where we will be distributing flyer:

20th September 2008
Mersey Air Vent, Mann Island
7pm festival gates open to public, 8pm performances start.
FREE ENTRY!
Get down to Air vent early as limited places.

Live outdoor Music and Visual performances from Addictive TV (#1 VJ's in the world - DJ Magazine Poll) Flat-e (WARP film favourites) collaborating with Ultre and local AV collective Kinetic Fallacy...all performing live in front of the huge projection and light show on the Mersey Tunnel Air Vent.

AudioVision In Liverpool 15-20 September 2008

Vent from peter norrman on Vimeo.
Liverpool's first Audio Visual festival!

15th - 20th September 2008

Visual installations, Live VJ'd Music performances, Artist screenings, visual workshops and an outdoor bike-in theatre.

Monday 15th - 19th September 2008
Mersey Air Vent, Mann Island
8pm - 12am
FREE ENTRY!

Specially commissioned projected installation onto the façade of the Mersey Tunnel 1930's Air Vent (Mann Island), from NOMO (NYC/Sweden) and Jacqueline Passmore (live visual artist for Ladytron & Stereolab) Bringing the insides of the building to the out!

Click here to see the artists blog of the installation process
http://urbanshifts.wordpress.com/

20th September 2008
Mersey Air Vent, Mann Island
7pm festival gates open to public, 8pm performances start.
FREE ENTRY!
Get down to Air vent early as limited places.

Live outdoor Music and Visual performances from Addictive TV (#1 VJ's in the world - DJ Magazine Poll) Flat-e (WARP film favourites) collaborating with Ultre and local AV collective Kinetic Fallacy...all performing live in front of the huge projection and light show on the Mersey Tunnel Air Vent.

Wed 17th September 2008
The Bluecoat
8pm
£12 / £10
Buy tickets here!

The Smith Quartet, (Strings with electronics) performing Steve Reich's 'Different trains' and new composers with specially commissioned cinematic visuals from local visual artists. A one-off performance, The Bluecoat, Liverpool. Supported by BMIC and The Bluecoat.

Artists:

Jon Baraclough Alex Wolkowicz Seel Garside Ian Mitchell (CU32) Joe Stathers-Tracey Markus Soukup Richard Ramchurn

Special AV nights at FACT and artists introductions - more updates to come!

Hive Twilight City 3: The Spectacular Suburb 13/9/08

Just found out that the above is sold out!!!

Hive Twilight City is a series of four high profile audiovisual performances over the course of 2008 paying tribute to a potentially overlooked part of Liverpool's essence: its industrial and business buildings, its bricks, Liverpool the space - the iconic and mundane, the city centre and the suburb. Each event will work as a celebration of existing city structures as the city itself moves onwards, a snapshot prior to the city’s ongoing mutation into a premier 21st Century City. In each event familiar sounds are reworked, familiar sights distorted in a feast of the best in new electronic music and state of the art projected visuals.

Saturday 13 September 2008

Matthew Herbert
Chris Watson
Hive DJs + VJs

the Bluecoat
School Lane
Liverpool L1 3BX
8pm - 10:30pm
£5/£7

Tel: +44 151 702 5324

SOLD OUT (totally)
The Hive Collective has commissioned two of the world’s most accomplished sonic pioneers, Matthew Herbert and Chris Watson, to collaborate on a unique composition constructed entirely out of recordings from Crosby Beach – the site of Antony Gormley’s Another Place installation.

A one-off event at a specially prepared performance space within the Bluecoat will see Watson explore Another Place through a series of source recordings, followed by Herbert’s presentation of a brand new musical composition based on those recordings.

By considering what these impassive iron men ‘hear’ as they gaze on the changing seascape and a changing Liverpool, the audience will, in turn, be encouraged to reimagine both the installation and the surrounding area, as well as reflect on how definitions of place vary, yet hold a truth, as they pass from person to person.

Challenging yet accessible, the event aims both to introduce new audiences to music composed from field recordings, as well as explore questions relating to what can constitute ‘music’ in a city dominated by more traditional definitions of authenticity.

About the Artists

Matthew Herbert
Restless innovator, sampling wizard, classically trained pianist and superstar collaborator, Matthew Herbert is one of electronic music's most versatile and prolific figureheads. Herbert has produced and remixed artists as diverse as Björk, REM, John Cale, Roisin Murphy, Yoko Ono and Serge Gainsbourg. An alchemist of avant-garde sound in the tradition stretching from Stockhausen to the Aphex Twin, Herbert combines playful pop sensibility with a strictly imposed experimental agenda.

Chris Watson
Chris Watson is a world renowned sound recordist and one of the pioneers of UK electronic music. Chris has travelled the world exploring the wildlife sounds of animals, habitats and atmospheres for some of the BBC’s most popular natural history programmes, such as Life in the Undergrowth, Talking with Animals, Big Cat Diary and The Life of Birds for which he won a BAFTA . Beginning his career as a musician in the Sheffield band Cabaret Voltaire, he has released three solo CDs through Touch.

Pool Of Light 31/10/08 - 30/11/08

Liverpool is one of Europe's leading lights. The city's reputation for imaginative lighting of its landmark buildings has gained international recognition. The Pool of Light project, which takes place throughout Liverpool from October 31st - November 30th 2008, brings some of the best international lighting designers to the European Capital of Culture for a unique lighting project.

Local people, young professionals and seven lighting designers will deliver a temporary lighting spectacle in eight locations in Autumn 2008, linking both sides of the world famous River Mersey. To find out how to get involved in the workshops or conference, check out the information on this website.

The Pool of Light project is supported by Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Vision, Mersey Waterfront Regional Park, Merseytravel, Northwest Regional Development Agency, Professional Lighting Design Association and Wirral Council.

For more details of events:

Pool Of Light

AudioVision

The AudioVision festival site has been launched!

Visit AudioVision to see the full line-up, dates and times for all the events.

There is also a link to view the beginnings of the artists blog - who are creating the urban video installation to be projected onto the Mersey Air Vent. This will be updated weekly as their work and ideas are developed.

Liverpool's first Audio Visual festival!

15th - 20th September 2008

Visual installations, Live VJ'd Music performances, Artist screenings, visual workshops and an outdoor bike-in theatre.

Monday 15th - 19th September 2008
Mersey Air Vent, Mann Island
8pm - 12am
FREE ENTRY!

Specially commissioned projected installation onto the façade of the Mersey Tunnel 1930's Air Vent (Mann Island), from NOMO (NYC/Sweden) and Jacqueline Passmore (live visual artist for Ladytron & Stereolab) Bringing the insides of the building to the out!

The Hope Street Project is hoping to actively support this festival - more details in near future.

Hope Street Feast 21/9/08

We will be participating in this year's Hope Street Feast and will post up details at a later date.

Here is the publicity blurb from the Hope Street Feast who organise the event:

Hope Street Feast is the ultimate family-friendly chill-out Sunday street party in Liverpool's iconic Hope Street Quarter. Celebrate the launch of the cultural season and academic year, the CAMRA Real Ale Pubs Festival, and the finale of the Liverpool Food and Drink Festival, with music, theatre, dance, great food, drink and produce, and much more. See Vasily Petrenko conduct the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir at the Phil’s Open Day; enjoy the Open Air Ceili organised by Liverpool Irish Festival, or take part in dance workshops at Merseyside Dance Initiative leading to a performance. Kids will love the Unity Theatre’s “Emperor Bling’s To Do Market”, and there’s plenty more open events including Blackburne House’s 25th Birthday Party, The Dojo, and events at the Everyman Theatre.

Music includes reggae from T & Latouche, and sets from Ian Prowse, Jennifer John, Liz Green, Xander and the Peace Pirates, and Cortina Deluxx.

Eat at, or outside, the many fine restaurants on Hope Street: this year there will be several al fresco dining areas at which you can feast, including alcohol free family dining areas at the top of Mount Street and Hardman Street, whilst some of the quarter’s finest bars and eateries will have open air extensions for the day. Above all, enjoy a Green & Black’s organic ice cream outside The Phil!

At the heart of it all there’s the market, running along Hope Street from LIPA to the Everyman. With double the number of stalls this year, there’s more hot and gourmet foods, fine regional farm produce and local crafts than ever before. And setting the theme for the day this year we welcome The Market Of Optimism, organised by Hope Street Ltd and commissioned by Liverpool Culture Company. As you enter Hope Street you will be handed 100 “Neuros” to spend at 20 ridiculous market stalls on inspirational products that are the answer to a wish and the embodiment of hope. Accompanied by street musicians, roof top hawkers, flapping carpets, singers and vendors of every description, this sprinkling of positive madness will provide perfect seasoning to the Feast.

Events begin with the morning services in the Cathedrals, the market, and with children’s films in the Phil from 10am and run throughout the day until 5.30pm. The Market of Optimism runs from 1pm to 4pm.

More details of the Fest programme:

http://www.hopestreetfeast.com/

Sound And Light To Unite Cathedrals

The project features in this morning's Liverpool Daily Post. Vicky Anderson the Daily Post's acting Arts Editor recently interviewed Peter Appleton and Colin Dilnot from the project and this is what she has written in today's paper:

THE hopes and aspirations of the people of Liverpool will travel the length of one of its most inspirational streets as part of a striking new art project.

The Hope Street Project is an innovative art installation which will link Liverpool’s two cathedrals with light and sound throughout the autumn.

“Voices travel as light” is the idea behind the piece, as it will use two lasers – one that will be visible during hours of darkness, and a second invisible beam carrying voices and sounds between the two cathedrals.

The visible laser will be turned on from September 25.

Following on from that, recorded sounds travelling along the other beam will vibrate the strings of a guitar, creating a chordal and harmonic backdrop to the delicate tapestry of voices which will be heard in both cathedrals at designated times.

This is where the need for outside help comes in, as the team behind the project are appealing for volunteers to contribute the phrases – a word, a sentence or short poem that describes what you hope for in life – that will be added to the mass that will resonate in both cathedrals, travelling along the sonic beam between them.

The overall sound created will offer a gentle and discreet ambience for reflection and contemplation.

Visitors to the cathedrals will be able to hear the sounds created by the installation in both Cathedrals at designated times.

Organisers have already held special events to get people involved and anyone interested can add their voices to the project, by emailing a message to hopestreetproject@gmail.com, or you can drop into either cathedral at designated times to record it (details can be found at the websites below).

Project manager Colin Dilnot said: “It’s about aspirations and the aspirations of the people of Liverpool. That’s why we wanted to do it in 2008, at such a time of optimism.”

All the software has been made specifically, and the Hope Street Project will go live the week beginning October 25 and culminate with a concert with choirs at each cathedral.

“The Anglican takes on a unique quality to the space, because of the fantastic acoustics there. If you go to the Metropolitan its sounds different again".

“The project is interesting as it is about how the sounds we are creating interplay in very different buildings. People are going to be intrigued by it.”

For more information visit:

http://www.hopestreetproject.blogspot.com/ or
http://www.myspace.com/hopestreetproject

Vicky Anderson

Big thanks to Vicky Anderson and the Liverpool Daily Post for publicising our project.

Reaching Out Along Hope Street

An intregal part of the project is the outreach work we are conducting to involve the people of Liverpool in the project. We want the voices of the people of Liverpool to be transmitted over Hope Street as light.

One part of the outreach work was to map the various organisations and businesses along Hope Street. The process began earlier this year by photographing the street to reflect the complexity of useage and the variety or organisations and business we are engaging. The idea is to move out from Hope Street and engage as many people as possible who wish to contribute to the project between now and November 2008.

The above slide show reflects the journey we made down Hope Street one bright Winter's day in January.

Laser Over Hope Street

An important part of the installation is the visual impact of linking the two Cathedrals by laser. The red laser which we are using to transmit the voices and sounds is invisible to the naked eye.

We have been conducting experiments using a green laser with our partners Lairdside Laser and Laser Quantum. The above slide show demonstrates the visual impact we want to create in linking the two Cathedrals along Hope Street. We believe this visual impact will greatly enhance the presence of the project and lead to people taking more notice of what we are trying to achieve. We would also want people to be sufficently interested by the visual laser to take part in the installation.

We have also been discussing the possibility of a greater visual impact by modulating the green laser with the energy of the voices we are generating.

We must thank Chris McCarthy for the stunning photographs in the slide show and are new banner for the blog.

Laser Installation 3

The above slide show details the installation of one of the infra-red lasers at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.

Laser Installation 2

The above slide show details the installation of the infra-red laser at the Liverpool Catherdral.

The installation involved fixing the laser to a parapet on the bell tower of the Cathedral. The installation was made difficult due to access issues in the building, locating the laser at the best height, only being allowed to use non-intrusive fixing of the laser because of heritage considerations and the distance from the Cathredal's audio system to the parapet.

Access to the parapet has to be negotiated through 2 lifts, narrow spaces within the Cathedral, many stairs and finally using a ladder from the bell-ringing area to the a window onto the parapet.

We explored several possible locations for the postioning of the laser but the parapet had the best height to link to the Metropolitan Cathedral especially when we install the green visual laser.

We eventually overcame the fixing of the laser to the parapet by using a resin, which enables us to get the strength of fix to maintain the link in all weathers and get over the problem of not being able to bolt the laser to the floor.

We were presented with a problem of fixing the internal cabling once we decided on the positioning of the laser. This problem was solved with considerable help from the Cathedral's staff who fixed the cable for us so that it was not intrusive.

Laser Installation 1

The installation of the laser system has involved considerable planning and difficult work in both Cathedrals as we faced the challenges presented by the structures of both buildings.

We conducted several site inspections with staff from both Cathedrals and the project team over the Winter. We needed to ensure we complied with safety requirements and the heritage of both buildings which required safe and sensitive installation of cabling and lasers. The staff from both Cathedrals provided us with excellent support and helped with the installaton of cabling from the lasers to the internal audio systems.

In the above slide show, you can see Keith and Wayne from the project team working on installing the laser and external cabling on the Liverpool Metropolitan Catherdal.

Liverpool Cathedrals In Winter 08

Over the late winter months, we worked hard to install the infra-red laser system in the two Cathedrals. The infra-red laser will carry the audio between the Cathedrals and is a crucial part of the installation to allow us to transmit "voices travelling as light down Hope Street". The photos were taken on a cold February morning before we began work.

The State Of The Sea Installation 1994

The State of Sea installation at Tate Gallery St Ives 1994 - involved the transmission of a live image of the sea carried on a laser beam via mirrors to the sunken courtyard in the centre of the building where it was demodulated and viewable on a small screen set into a wooden wall mounted Unit. The video diary was kept during the development and sitting of the piece.

Sonic Graffiti@RENEW Rooms Liverpool 16/1/08

We would like to invite you to the above event to test out our audio collection system for the Hope Street Project as follows:


16 January 2008
Start Time: 6.00pm
End Time: 8.00pm
Location: RENEW Rooms 82 Wood Street Liverpool

Come and use your mobile phone as a recording tool for sounds or comment about the city. Contribute through our answering system to a repository of voices and urban noise. These sounds will be randomly distributed within a spatial sound installation forming an immersive and updating ambient urban sonic backdrop at the RENEW Rooms.

The phone line, 0151 231 4801 , will be open between 10th - 15th Jan for you to leave your sounds (no more than ten seconds ). Be - poetic, rhythmic, critical, sonically sensitive, urban ....

Contact:anna.johnson@member.riba.org

Can You Hear Me?

The Hope Street Project represents that third phase of a series of installations working with the design and composition of string sculptures.

Phase One was presented at The Old Library in Cardiff in May 2003, in response to a commission by Cardiff 2008 and The British Council. New Young Europeans presented the public with a series of photographic images of young asylum seekers, and also written testaments by the young participants. Underscoring this was an aural tapestry made up of the voices of these young people asking the question “can you hear me?” in their mother tongue. This diffused into the exhibition space through a relay of small string structures. An open mike was also made available for visitors to record their own responses into the archive. The phrase holds a poignant irony that is particular to Cardiff. It is the phrase first spoken by Marconi. The first spark of telegraphic communication took place between Lavernock Point and Flatholm in the Bristol Channel.

Laser Test

Beams of light link the towers of the two cathedrals along Hope Street. These will be visible on misty or rainy evenings, but they are also the conduits for voices to be passed between the two buildings. What is being sent is a growing collection of hopeful phrases and utterances that are drawn directly from the people of Liverpool distributed through a contemplative soundspace that links the two Cathedrals.

To achieve the above aspiration means that the project team have had to overcome significant technical challenges to use green laser to transmit audio between the Liverpool Cathedral and Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. Green laser is being used as a medium because it has superior visibility to red laser. Therefore, we will then be able to achieve the kind of iconic image which the project team wants when the installation is in situ later this year.

A test of the green laser's visiblity was carried in late November last year. The above video was taken of the laser as the team carried out the test from the tower of the Liverpool Cathedral. The laser was fired from the tower towards the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. Not only was it visible from the tower but could also be clearly seen from the ground.

This gave some Liverpool people a short glimpse of what will be visible in the night skies during October and November of this year.

Hope Street Project

Liverpool is European Capital of Culture 2008.

The Hope Street Project is an innovative art installation, which will link the Liverpool Cathedral and the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral during October and November of the Capital of Culture year.

The art installation will be a laser linking the towers of the two Cathedrals. The laser beams will also be conduits for voices passing between the two buildings, using phrases drawn directly from the people of Liverpool. The voices will pass through voice sound instruments installed in each cathedral, which abstract the words into string vibrations. This will create a chordal and harmonic backdrop to the delicate tapestry of voices. The piece will be sensitive to the harmonic architecture of each space but also mixes these spaces into an overlapping sound-scape. This will offer a gentle and discreet ambience for reflection and contemplation.

The installation will also be marked by a concert event to be performed in November 2008. The concert will be performed using a score composed in response to the installation.

The Hope Street Project represents the third phase of a series of collaborative installations between artist and musician Peter Appleton and composer Simon Thorne. The project is supported by a project manager Colin Dilnot; laser engineers Ken Owen and Keith Snook; software developer Ben Mitchell; project engineer Wayne Stevens and web designer Maya Ziglio. Stelios Giannoulakis, an electro-acoustic composer based in Athens, created the original digital system that drives the installation. This digital system has been developed further by Ben Mitchell.

The project is funded by the Arts Council England North West, the Performing Rights Society and Liverpool John Moores University. The Automatic, a research group and I-Lab facility in collaboration support the project with the International Centre for Digital Content, Liverpool John Moores University.