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OSCILLATION | One of Five ArtPrize Featured Public Projects

"It's not just one piece that people surround, but instead, kind of a journey through the path."

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Returning for ArtPrize and for a third time in the event's 10 year existence, is the Featured Public Projects program.

The program awards grants to five artists and collaboratives from around the country to install large-scale pieces of art at prominent outdoor locations within the ArtPrize district.

$90,000 was awarded to Featured Projects at Calder Plaza, Ah-Nab-Awen Park, Gillett Bridge and the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

"We spent all day Sunday installing it," said Ryan Swanson, creator of Oscillation, which is one of the Featured Projects. "It took about 9 hours to get everything set up."

Oscillation is an interactive installation that focuses on creating community activity and social interaction through play.

The piece is made up of five crystal-like forms that look and sound like they're from another world.

"As you walk through the exhibit, the different pieces actually play different sounds based on your proximity to them," said Swanson.

Motion sensors have been placed inside each of the five pieces of Oscillation. The material used to cover each piece is Dichromic film, causing different colored reflections, depending on how the sun is angled.

"We're about bringing play back to the urban infrastructure and trying to bring community back to public places," said Swanson.

As passersby walk closer to the illuminated crystals, a sound begins to resonate that changes pitch as the person moves around the piece.

"It becomes a great selfie spot," said Swanson. "We want the experience to be a journey rather than one piece that people surround.

"As Plato once said, 'You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation,' and that's exactly the intent of Oscillation."

If you're interested in learning more about Oscillation, click HERE.

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