Case Study: Beyond Borders – aroundNorth

Have you ever wanted to hear the stars? Robert Jarvis took that thought and ran with it, creating a wonderful project set to inspire many for years to come. Funded through our Beyond Borders programme back in 2013, Robert is an award winning composer, one who in this case mixes his passion for composition with his love of all things scientific, inspired by Polaris and the night sky.

Visitors to aroundNorth will experience the sounds assigned to the stars above, projected in real time through eight speakers placed in the gallery. After the original UK tour dates, the installation will be spending the entirety of October at Ards Arts Centre in Newtownards, Belfast:

One of the best ways to experience the installation is to stand in the centre of the gallery, close your eyes, listen, and imagine the stars moving above your head. The exhibition will particularly appeal to those who are visually impaired as it is a unique sensory experience and allows visitors to imagine the stars by sound alone.

As well as constantly working on the project since its initial inception, Robert Jarvis has been documenting the process for us all on his aroundNorth blog, which as well as the video above, features other shorts from various parts of the project that are well worth your time. The installation is free to all, and private viewings are also available. Make sure you follow Robert’s WordPress page, and check out the full information over on Ards Arts Centre.