You Were Here’ is a new interactive light installation in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood that uses motion tracking to animate the hundreds of butterflies lit with LED lights by artist Meghan Cheng. This interactive public art can be found by passers-by at Korman & Co in #RiversideTO, 721 Queen E, just steps east of Broadview Ave.
The art is part STEPS Public Art’s I HeART Main Street and the Inspired Art program. Learn more about the art and the supporters below, and we encourage everyone to go check out this incredible installation this fall. STEPS and U of T Inspired Art Team is out gathering thoughts about the value of public art this week – pls share your thoughts via their survey!
About the Art:
‘You Were Here’ is an interactive light installation that uses motion tracking of people walking by to animate the lighted butterflies.
The installation alludes to the beauty found in loving something that is lost and aims to acknowledge a person’s presence, however brief it may be.
The installation is made of hundreds of individually lit butterflies. Each butterfly was 3D printed and individually shaped to create a unique creature. The hundreds of LED lights are controlled using the program, TouchDesigner.
It was made specifically for the site at 721 Queen St E.
More about Artist Meghan Cheng:
Meghan creates artwork in the form of light sculptures, projection mapping or screen-based work for live performances, galleries and public spaces. Her work is interactive and data based, in that she takes real world elements such as audio, motion and web and social media activity and uses that data to drive visual elements. Meghan makes digital content that feels tangible, relatable and natural through the use of hand drawn images, photography, acoustic instrumental music as well as generative forms. Meghan has a master’s in fine arts from York University (Toronto, ON) and a Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music (Boston, USA).
About I Heart Mainstreet and the Inspired Art Impact Program:
I HeART Main Street is presented in partnership with RBC Royal Bank, and generously supported by Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and funding provided by the Government of Ontario; Inspired Art Impact is made possible through a partnership with Toronto Metropolitan University. We would like to acknowledge the generous support of the City of Toronto, MITACS, RBC Royal Bank, the Government of Ontario, Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts. The City of Toronto’s Main Street Innovation Fund is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario); The CreateSpace Residency is supported by the City of Toronto as part of ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of PuD Ready Commitment, Canada Council for the Arts, and Ontario Arts Council.
Close up of ‘You Were Here’ art by Meghan Cheng in Riverside BIA and photo credit Selina McCallum
Artist installs ‘You Were Here’ – art by Meghan Cheng in Riverside BIA and photo credit Selina McCallum