‘sun boxes’

‘sun boxes’ by american musician and light and sculpture artist craig colorusso is a solar powered sound installation comprised of twenty speakers, each operating independently. inside the ‘sun boxes’ is a PC board that has a recorded guitar note loaded and programmed to play continuously in a loop. these guitar notes collectively make a Bb chord. as the loops are different in length, once the piece begins they continually overlap and the musical composition slowly evolves over time.

craig colorusso: sun boxes mounted solar panels

‘the piece creates space. it is an environment for one to enter and exit. the footprint this environment occupies is similar to that of a city: a metropolis. it is a burst of technology in the middle of nature. unlike most cities I have been to, it does not just take over the space. instead ‘sun boxes’ interfaces with the environment and collaborates with nature. it is the perfect combination of technology and nature that create art, an environment, and a metropolis.‘ – CC

‘sun boxes’ orchestrating music via solar panels

craig colorusso: sun boxes detail

participants are encouraged to walk amongst the speakers, and surround themselves with the piece. certain speakers will be closer and, therefore, louder so the resulting music will sound different to visitors depending on their position. allowing the audience to move around the boxes will create a unique experience for everyone. thus, ‘sun boxes’ can construct not just one composition, but many.

craig colorusso: sun boxes

with no batteries involved, this design is reliant on the sun. when the sun sets the music stops and does not start until the sun rises. the piece changes as the length of the day changes. since the amount of sunlight varies from day to day so does the composition of ‘sun boxes’.

craig colorusso: sun boxes

‘we are all reliant on the sun. it is refreshing to be reminded of this. our lives have filled up with technology. but we still need the sun and so does sun boxes.‘ – CC

craig colorusso: sun boxes craig colorusso surrounded by ‘sun boxes’