rss feedNew Yorkers and Londoners Will Peer Across the Pond with a Telectroscope
Posted by Eudie Pak at 4:57 PM, May 13, 2008
From the crew that brought you the street production of The Sultan’s Elephant—which drew over a million spectators in London in 2006—comes a mysteriously exciting event: Artichoke presents The Telectroscope on Thursday, May 22nd.
So, the story goes that an 18th-century engineer endeavored to create the first transatlantic optical device (via excavated tunnels) that would have enabled New Yorkers and Londoners to gaze at each other. Apparently, the old man didn’t live to see his invention through, but now his great grandson, artist Paul St. George, has claimed he’s achieved his great grandfather’s dream.
If the fates allow, New Yorkers will be able to send out a ‘cheers’—or a moon or a "I love you" or whatever—to Londoners in real time, 24-7, via a Telectroscope, til June 15th.
The spectacle gets underway on the morning of May 20th when a gargantuan drill will rise up half-way from the East River near the Brooklyn Bridge. Another drill will rise in the Thames near the Tower Bridge. Then, if all goes according to plan, New Yorkers and Londoners will be able to communicate via the faux Victorian telescope.
The Telectroscope will be in use until June 15th. We’ll keep you posted on the drills and whatnot next week...
