hydraulophone, hydraulaphone, hydrauliphone, funtain

Ontario Science Centre Hydraulophone

Here's a pipe organ that Chris Aimone and I made together:
FUNtain pipe organ with water-jets as keys, Wednesday 2006 September 20th:

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Kris Abel's blog

A blend of art and science for everyone's enjoyment, contemplation and inspiration.
Form will meet function at the Ontario Science Centre's new "Grand Central" entryway.

The centre announced yesterday that installations by Toronto artists Steve Mann and David Rokeby are among three pieces selected for display in its new entrance space. A small-scale work by Pennsylvania artist Stacy Levy was also chosen in a juried international competition that attracted 230 entries from six countries.

--TABASSUM SIDDIQUI, The Toronto Star, Dec. 9, 2005

PostScript version of entire article


Artists at Science Center Inspired by the Four Elements

TORONTO, Dec. 9, 2005 - When Ontario Science Centreâs new âGrand Centralâ entryway opens in mid-2006, visitors will be greeted by three pieces of installation art that combine the four natural elementsâearth, air, fire and waterâwith artistic inspiration, The Toronto Star reports.

The centre chose two native Canadian artists, Steve Mann and David Rokeby, and Pennsylvania artist Stacy Levy to display in the new space.

Mannâs work, FUNtain, is âan interactive fountain that uses a water pump and hollow pipes to generate music when visitors press their hands over the opening of a pipe,â the newspaper writes.

âThere isnât a lot of inventiveness in art [these days], but art is about invention. Art, science and technology inform and influence each other,â Mann tells the Star.

Levyâs installation, Lotic Meander, uses black granite and polished stones to represent a river. âItâs just great that this science centre is sophisticated enough not to draw a line between art and science,â the Star quoyes Levy.

Rokebyâs cloud is a kinetic sculpture hanging from the ceiling.


We are very excited by the creativity and imagination of these exceptional artworks, said Lesley Lewis, CEO, Ontario Science Centre. We know visitors of all ages will share our enthusiasm. Through our current Agents of Change initiative, we are committed to inspiring a culture of innovation. Part of this is presenting a blend of art and science for everyones enjoyment, contemplation and inspiration. This is an exciting new facet of the Ontario Science Centre. ... place of awe and wonder, of inspiration ... visitors will have a chance to pause, plan and reflect about their stay at the Centre. The overarching theme of Grand Central draws on the four classical elements earth, air, fire and water that are central to the origins of science and have provided rich inspiration to the arts for millennia.

Nancy Lockhart, Chair of the Ontario Science Centre and Chair of the Agents of Change fundraising campaign, said that she has followed this international competition with great interest. Art is one of my passions, she said. I am delighted with these dynamic and outstanding art installations. I am especially excited that they will serve to bring the fascinating worlds of art and science even closer together at our Centre. I hope they will inspire our visitors. ...

The jury consisted of:

The competition began in September 2004 when the Science Centre published a worldwide Call for Expressions of Interest. By the October 27 , 2004 deadline, the jury received 230 expressions of interest from Canada, China, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Following a rigorous, adjudication process, three successful candidates were announced today. All three works of art will be installed by the time Grand Central opens to the public in 2006.

Agents of Change, part of Torontos current city-wide cultural revitalization, is a $45.6 million, three-year innovation initiative...



A crude but fully functional PVC prototype of the proposed sculpture