The MIT Disabilities ERG is proud to present a series of events for Disability Employment Awareness Month this October.

Join us for Festival Henge,  a community participation art project that involves, absorbs and reflects the community of artists at and associated with MIT by Gearóid Dolan. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we will be jamming on 10/3, 10/10 and 10/17.

Festival Henge  is a dynamic installation composed of eight freestanding, translucent hand-made LED video panels arranged in an octagonal formation. Each low-resolution video screen displays imagery visible from both sides, while also allowing the surrounding environment to be visible between the LED pixels, inviting viewers into a 360° audiovisual environment with sixteen-channel surround sound.

The installation runs silent 24/7, playing a video loop of content that evolves over time, as community members submit new video content that gets added to the loop. Add your content, join the Loop!

Gearóid says, "Every Friday after sundown I hold “Friday Night Jam Sessions”, 7:30pm to 11pm, when the Festival Henge is activated by community sound artists, DJs and audio visual artist performances. It is a fun participatory environment where artists and community members gather and celebrate community in a festive and welcoming space. Come join us, experience the art, hang out, play the participatory synthesizer, dance with us to beats in celebration of each other.

The “Big Knob 303” synthesizer is built for people who don’t have music skills or knowledge to participate: it is very popular and a lot of fun. My computer plays the notes and accompanying drums and you play the 6 large knobs that effect the quality and timbre of the sounds. Created so people with low vision or who are blind can participate with minimal instructions, and for all to try and to enjoy.

During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we will be jamming on 10/3, 10/10 and 10/17, which will also be the closing event of the project and coincides with the 99 Fridays dance party on the 6th Floor."

This work is made possible by Arts At MIT, Artfinity Arts Festival, The Art Culture & Technology Program & Media Lab
 

Other events in this series

10/6 -Making Inclusion and Accessibility Part of All Your Work with Rachel Tanenhaus 

10/8 -Disabled Artists in Conversation

10/15 - Building Inclusive Workplace Practices: A talk with Laura Beretsky