150 Media Stream: We The People

Thirst’s installation We The People is a premiere commission for 150 Media Stream, the largest multimedia art installation in Chicago. Located at 150 North Riverside, this unique video sculpture features 89 individual LED blades at 150 feet long and over 20 feet high. Thirst joins several announced artists to premiere work for the video sculpture: Jason Salavon, Kurt Kaminski, Megan Pryce/Zhang Zige, Geoffrey Alan Rhodes, and Leviathan.

We The People is a suite of five scenes, expressing oneness, diversity, and community. Words from the U.S. Constitution are used throughout the piece, as well as 150 first names of those born in America within the last decade.

In 1787 the U.S. Constitution was signed by a fractured group of misfits and outcasts — delegates — each an immigrant in a new land. These individuals set the course towards a unified nation dedicated to the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. Their work inspired Thirst’s suite of ambient scenes, each animated expressions of the diverse melting pot that is America. Together, we shall overcome. Divided, we will fall.” — John Pobojewski, Thirst

Select photography by Ross Floyd and Michael Salisbury

A wandering journey through virtual darkness reveals “certain unalienable Rights” hidden behind the sculpture’s blades.

A peaceful assembly of dancers take the stage in every shape and color.

Circles — each with a different first name — bubble together in gentle waves, forming a virtual melting pot.

A 3D pen writes the words US, WE, HAVE, HOLD, HOPE.

Credits

Press Coverage

Time Out Chicago
Archpaper
Chicagoist
UrbanMatter

150 Media Stream

commissioned and curated by
Riverside Investment & Development

display concept and physical structure by
McCann Systems in cooperation with Digital Kitchen

creative content partnership with
Leviathan

150 N Riverside Plaza lobby and building design by
Goettsch Partners

Process

Alphabet

Thirst designer, Taek Hyun Kim, created a custom alphabet of modular pieces on a square grid.

Inspiration

The flickering, hyper-saturated signage in Times Square became a visual palette for most of the piece — as an obvious reference to the technology behind 150 Media Stream. How could it be deconstructed and celebrated as a metaphor for American democracy?

The work of historic photographer Eadweard Muybridge and modern Chicago artist Nick Cave inspired new ways of thinking of diversity — in both form and motion.

The real human presence behind the signature is evident in both the words of our founding fathers and on the city streets. Thirst was inspired to imagine new forms based around this visual language.

Opening night

Mayor Rahm Emanuel takes it all in on Opening Night. Architect James Goettsch and Developer John O’Donnell also present.

Project Team

John Pobojewski
Rick Valicenti
Kyle Green
Zach Minnich
Taek Hyun Kim