3.2014
Ringing Out by Andy Ingamells
Ingamells describes this performance as follows: “Giant 5-line stave made from bungee chords attached to the four columns of the atrium. Five giant clusters of helium balloons floating in the space. Clusters are attached to ropes that can be pulled by visitors to the library (pulled like ringing church bells). A choir stands outside the space, reading the moving clusters as ever changing melodic lines.”
Exhibition Text: “The exhibition is also brought to life by Ringing Out, a specially-made three-dimensional score intervention by artist Beth Derbyshire and composer / artist Andy Ingamells. Balloons are displayed during moments of happiness and celebration, much like the ringing of church bells. The ringing of church bells doesn’t offer the same visual spectacle, though bell ringers use a visual system known as ‘rope sight’ to keep them in sequence. Bellringing takes place away from the gaze of those who hear it, leaving just the sound resonating outwards from the bell tower. Beth Derbyshire and Andy Ingamells bring ringing out of the towers and into the Library of Birmingham, suspending a giant multi-coloured cluster of helium balloons that can be moved and changed by pulling on long ropes. The changes in the cluster will be read as musical notation by a live choir, filling the library with celebratory sounds. If you would like to ring the cluster, then gather a team of friends and visit the library during the SCORE exhibition.”
Performance date: 3.22.2014