Caly McMorrow with the prompt for Observation Tape Deck.

Caly’s crew member installing wires.

Installing lights for Observation Tape Deck.

Saturday I had the pleasure of checking in with Caly McMorrow as she began installing Observation Tape Deck. This reiteration of her Artist on the Verge project, Status Update, is well on its way to being a hit at the top of the Foshay Tower!

When I stopped in, Caly and her installation crew were in the process of tossing wires from a room above the Observation Deck to the overhang where they will be attached to hold vintage light bulbs that sync with sound. Observation Tape Deck utilizes the same interactive features of sound recording and repetition from McMorrow’s previous work, but is re-situated in the Foshay Tower – a building that historically transmitted radio programs to Minneapolis. Visitors are invited to record their observations and memories into vintage broadcast microphones installed at each corner of the Observation Deck. As recordings are compiled throughout the night, they will play around the speakers lining the deck – creating a collage of visitors’ observations from 9pm until 5:30am.

What makes this version of the project different, McMorrow says, is not only the space but the number of microphones. Status Update recorded one message at a time and moved that sound around the installation, whereas Observation Tape Deck encourages multiple visitors to record at once, which will create interesting overlaps of sound and juxtapositions of thought.

Keep up the great work Caly and crew! I can’t wait to experience the final product.

Don’t miss the opportunity to see the city from atop the Foshay Tower and share your Northern Spark experiences with Caly’s project! Add Observation Tape Deck to your My Night.