August 1-31st, 2016, every night from 11:57 pm–midnight
Silent Orchestra: August 21-22, 11:00pm–midnight
(New York, N.Y.) July 21, 2016 – Times Square Arts brings musician and composer Jherek Bischoff’s Cistern, a video from his latest album, to Times Square’s electronic billboards from 11:57 p.m. to midnight every night in August. This project is a part of Midnight Moment, a monthly presentation by the Times Square Advertising Coalition (TSAC) and Times Square Arts.
The video features Bischoff as a lone tuxedoed figure awakening from the earth to traverse the expanses of the globe, covering the most extreme landscapes of the ocean floor, arid salt flats, glaciers, and mossy rainforest, ultimately retiring under a star-studded sky.
Cistern is inspired by sound improvisations Bischoff created in an empty, two-million gallon, underground water tank. The space boasts a 45-second reverb decay that forced Bischoff to slowdown and accommodate the unique acoustic qualities. Bischoff later recorded an album of ambient music, inspired by that time, with a live orchestra. The cinematic music naturally led to synchronization with film, and the contemplative manner in which Bischoff created soundscapes is echoed in its images. The video brings to life the expansiveness of the cistern and its relationship to distance, space and time, in an epic and introspective journey through extraordinary landscapes.
On August 21 and 22, Jherek Bischoff's Silent Orchestra will perform music from Bischoff's latest album Cistern on electronic orchestral instruments and stream through 400 sets of wireless headphones. To passersby, the ensemble will be completely silent; those who have headphones will be treated to an orchestral concert in the middle of Times Square – a spectacular way to perform music without violating the noise code. The finale of the concert will be synchronized with a screening of Bischoff's video for “Cistern,” broadcast on numerous screens throughout Times Square. Jherek Bischoff's Silent Orchestra features musicians from one of NYC's finest ensembles, Contemporaneous. The public is invited to arrive at 11pm both nights and the program will run until midnight.
On August 19 Bischoff will present an album release concert at National Sawdust in Williamsburg, Brooklyn starting at 7pm. More information can be found at www.nationalsawdust.org.
Jherek Bischoff, Artist, said, “Working on Cistern has been absolutely epic: from the initial sessions in the two-million-gallon, empty water tank, to filming in eight remote locations around the world. I have been buried twice, sunburned three times, and submerged on the ocean floor with rocks tied to my waist – thankfully only once. Performing songs from my record Cistern in Times Square with the Silent Orchestra, culminating in my video being played on Times Square's screens, is the most exciting thing I can imagine. As a composer of music outside the mainstream, sharing my work with such a massive audience is a dream.”
Jim Batt, Director/Producer, said, “It feels appropriate that the Cistern video, filmed in remote locations around the world, following a figure alone among the elements, should be screened among the lively crowds at the heart of a bustling metropolis. The video’s cycle of time on a mythic and geological scale is a fitting juxtaposition to the exuberant rush and hustle of Times Square.”
Paola Prestini, Creative and Executive Director, National Sawdust, said, “As an artist-led nonprofit supporting those that thrive in the creation and exploration of new music, National Sawdust is thrilled to be a part of Jherek Bischoff’s upcoming performances. It is also our privilege to partner with Times Square Arts on this project as we both seek to maintain a unique and complex musical ecosystem in NYC.”
Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance, said, “Once again, Times Square highlights its unique assets to expand the concept of what one can expect. Where else can one feel the heat and energy of the city, and grab a pair of headsets to listen to this emerging superstar and watch a midnight showing?”
Sherry Dobbin, Times Square Arts Director, said, “This is our most ambitious experiment to bring sound to our iconic silent surround cinema. The scope of Bischoff’s musical and video work and its cavernous origins are a perfect fit for this artificial canyon.”
Fred Rosenberg, President of the Times Square Advertising Coalition, said, “Each month the Midnight Moment gets more and more creative, incorporating new and interactive components like this month’s live orchestra. The committee was impressed by the video’s exploration of the diverse landscapes and geographies throughout the world. It’s a very fitting piece to be showcased in our very own concrete jungle.”
The following digital screens are participating in the August Midnight Moment:
ABC SuperSign, American Eagle Times Square, Bank of America, Branded Cities 7 Times Square, Branded Cities NASDAQ Tower Times Square, Branded Cities Thomson Reuters, Outfront Media 1515 Broadway/ Viacom North & South, CEMUSA, City Outdoor, Clear Channel Spectacolor HD127/CNN, Clear Channel Spectacolor HD128, Disney Store Spectacular, Microsoft Cube and Welcome Center Live Tiles, Morgan Stanley Lights on Broadway, Sherwood Equities 1 Times Square, SILVERCAST Digital Spectacular - Times Square, Superior Digital Displays Three Times Square #5, Superior Digital Displays Triple Play
About Midnight Moment
Midnight Moment is the largest coordinated effort in history by the sign operators in Times Square to display synchronized, cutting-edge creative content on electronic billboards and newspaper kiosks throughout Times Square every night. The program premiered in May 2012 and is organized and supported by the Times Square Advertising Coalition in partnership with Times Square Arts, the public art program of the Times Square Alliance, with additional partners of participating sign holders and artists.
Each night, Times Square becomes a digital art gallery through dazzling visuals on select billboards and newsstands. Every show begins at 11:57 p.m. with a "countdown" that signals the start of the three minute nightly presentation. Past artists featured in the program include Beau Stanton; Saya Woolfalk; Jennifer Steinkamp; Soundwalk Collective; Lorna Mills; Peter Fischli and David Weiss; Laurie Anderson; Antony Nagelmann; Jesper Just; Shahzia Sikander; Rashaad Newsome; Osgemeos; Eric Dyer; Richard Garet; Andy Warhol; Peggy Ahwesh; Marco Brambilla; Rafaël Rozendaal; Sebastian Errazuriz; Charles Atlas and Antony; Noah Hutton; Ryoji Ikeda; Daniel Canogar; Alfredo Jaar; Isaac Julien; Robert Wilson; Tracey Emin; Seoungho Cho; Vicki DaSilva, Surabhi Saraf, and Elly Cho; Erika Janunger; Takeshi Murata; Bel Borba with Burt Sun and André Costantini; Zach Nader; Brian Gonzalez (aka Taxiplasm); Björk; JR; Ryan McGinley; Jack Goldstein; Nature Theater of Oklahoma; Ezra Wube; Laleh Khorramian; Brian Dailey; Leslie Thornton; and Yoko Ono. For more information on past projects, please visit: http://www.timessquarenyc.org/times-square-arts/projects/midnight-moment/index.aspx
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Times Square Advertising Coalition (TSAC) is a trade association comprised of major advertisers, retailers, real estate firms, media companies and other businesses involved in the outdoor sign industry in Times Square, along with organizations representing Broadway and the community. Members of TSAC include: ABC Regional Sports & Entertainment Sales, Clear Channel Spectacolor, Daktronics, D3 LED, Digital Domination, Hines Management, Jamestown One Times Square, Lamar Advertising Company, Landmark Sign & Electric, Metro Media Technologies, Newmark Knight Frank, North Shore Neon, P.R.omotion!, Sherwood Outdoor, SL Green, Times Square Alliance, The WOW Factor and Thomson Reuters. www.timessquareadcoalition.org. Follow TSAC on twitter at @TSACNYC.
Times Square Arts, the public art program of the Times Square Alliance, collaborates with contemporary artists and cultural institutions to experiment and engage with one of the world's most iconic urban places. Through the Square's electronic billboards, public plazas, vacant areas and popular venues, and the Alliance's own online landscape, Times Square Arts invites leading contemporary creators to help the public see Times Square in new ways. Times Square has always been a place of risk, innovation and creativity, and the Arts Program ensures these qualities remain central to the district's unique identity. Generous support of Times Square Arts is provided by the. New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Visit http://www.timessquarenyc.org/times-square-arts/index.aspx for more information. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @TSqArts.
Jherek Bischoff (Director / Producer /Composer)
Jherek Bischoff is a Los Angeles-based composer, arranger, producer and multi-instrumental performer. He has collaborated with the likes of Kronos Quartet, Bang on a Can, David Byrne, Caetano Veloso and Neil Gaiman and has performed in venues and festivals around the globe, including Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, BAM, Adelaide Festival and Tasmania’s MONA FOMA. His work as a composer has garnered commissions from Kronos Quartet, Lincoln Center, and St Ann's Warehouse, and has been performed by Seattle Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Adelaide Art Orchestra, Wordless Music Orchestra and yMusic. 2014 saw his musical scoring debut, Johnny Breitwieser at Vienna's Schauspielhaus and in 2015, Bischoff contributed work to Starz' "Blunt Talk" and Netflix's "Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp." This summer sees the release of Bischoff's critically-acclaimed album Cistern, a performance at Royal Albert Hall for BBC's Prom Tribute to David Bowie, and continued work on his collaborative album with Kronos Quartet. http://www.jherekbischoff.com
Jim Batt (Director / Producer)
Filmmaker Jim Batt is from Australia. And Berlin. And New York. His award-winning animations and music videos have screened worldwide, and he has enjoyed many wonderful collaborations that include working with Amanda Palmer, Sydney Opera House, Neil Gaiman, Kim Boekbinder, Molly Crabapple and more. http://www.jimbatt.com/
National Sawdust is an unparalleled, artist-led, non-profit venue, is a place for exploration and discovery. A place where emerging and established artists can share their music with serious music fans and casual listeners alike. http://www.nationalsawdust.org
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Media Contacts:
For Times Square Arts:
TJ Witham
212.452.5234 | TJWitham@TimesSquareNYC.org
Marisa Wayne
212.843.9216 | MWayne@Rubenstein.com
For TSAC:
Justine DiGiglio
212.205.6632 │Justine@NicholasLence.com