BOWWAVE @ BEAKERHEAD 2017

The BowWave rests on a gravel bar on the Bow river that was generated by the 2013 floods. It is at the nexus point of the TransCanada Trail, linked to three oceans , and is in the heart of the city. The Team brought people here to Celebrate this junction and create new memories in a very old place. This installation is the embodiment of connection and The Bow River is a bridge through time. the Bowwave is an invitation to see and play the river.

Bowwave wants people of all ages to interact with the sensor-activated buttons (repurposed from the old planetarium) that trigger a 100 metre-long wave-like light display across the river. The sensors sing sounds and energize the flashing light array when activated by one (or many) participants, with the various sequences and patterns creating excitement and wonder all along the riverbank. The BowWave brings together science, art, and people to make memories on a shifting landscape that celebrates the beauty of the river and the land around us. 

BowWave is a technology-driven excuse to revel in the beauty of the Bow River. See the river. Play the river. Illuminated, interactive shapes stretch out on a gravel beach created by the 2013 flood waters.

The BowWave Team is a collective of artists, musicians, engineers, makers, and fabricators; we’re a multi-faceted group with as many interpersonal connections as we have propensities. Our team of eight has come together to access a range of skills and create an interactive public art installation that mimics the value of our connection to each other and the city. The BowWave aims to create an electrifying sound and light display where people are encouraged to interact directly with the piece, the more people engage with the BowWave the fuller the experience becomes. Our team has learned over many years that as a group we can create work that reflects our diverse skills and the BowWave is our most expansive co-creation yet.