Liberty Bell
Photo by Joy Asico/BFA.com courtesy of Art Production Fund, Washington D.C
Commissioned by Art Production Fund, in partnership with 7G Foundation and the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, a project of the Fund for the City of New York, Liberty Bell is an animated, monumental and richly sonorous augmented reality (AR) drawing in 360 degrees and hence completely sustainable in nature. The public artwork will be geolocated at a series of sites and experienced on smartphones and tablets through Baker Cahill’s free 4th Wall app. The app was created in February of 2018 as “A tool of public access to art”. This project, which is two years in the making, lives at the vibrant intersection of public art, social consciousness and tech.
Artist Nancy Baker Cahill created “Liberty Bell”, a public art project utilizing augmented reality, which is presented simultaneously in six cities in the United States: Boston, MA, Charleston, SC, Philadelphia, PA, Rockaway, NY, Selma, AL, and Washington, DC. Liberty Bell will be on view through July 2021.
Photo by Joy Asico/BFA.com courtesy of Art Production Fund, Washington D.C
Nancy – What was the inspiration for Liberty Bell?
“From its origins in American history, “liberty” was only available to a certain demographic and came at great expense to others. You can’t have a conversation about freedom and not talk about the history of slavery and inequality in the United States. A bell can be a warning or a celebration; something spiritual or a wordless means of communication.
In an age of pandemic, surveillance, injustice and disinformation, who is actually free?
That’s the conversation we need to have.” - Nancy Baker Cahill, Artist “That was why I wanted to use the colors of the flag for this,” “I created the individual pieces so they were frayed but also woven together to suggest how independent and interdependent we are — and be open to the moments where they merge and work together.”
Casey – What is your perception of the Liberty Bell project?
“Through a visual and sonic AR experience, Baker Cahill gives viewers the opportunity to reflect upon their personal experiences of liberty, freedom, injustice and inequality. We are honored to present this poignant work during such a remarkable time.” - Casey Fremont, Executive Director, Art Production Fund.
Photo by Sally and Lisle Baker
