New Art and Lights Display Coming to BCA Plaza

Coming to the South End in late August will be a unique public art display at the Boston Center for the Arts plaza, featuring the intersection of technology, South End history, art, and a little bit of magic. 

The interactive display is called Culture Tap. Individual artists Dan Sternof Bever and Beyan Weissman of the New American Public Art artist collective and the Boston Center for the Arts have worked together to bring the new temporary installation to life. 

Culture Tap is a pair of interactive kiosks that passers-by can activate by tapping their Charlie Cards. What happens next depends on the person and on the time of day. By day, you'll get a historical audio story based on the location of where you've tapped. After sunset, you'll see an environmental lights show that may illuminate the surrounding architecture, foliage, or sidewalk. 

The exhibit is free, but the Charlie Card chip is used because its unique microchip is different in every card, giving you the chance to see several different outcomes whenever you walk by. 

"It’s going to be a really cool piece of public art," said Michael Duncan Smith, spokesperson for the BCA. "It was developed by the New American Public Art collaborative, in our artist studios program."

The kiosks will be displayed on the BCA Plaza, 539 Tremont St., from August 30 through October 18, 2013. 

An opening reception, artist talk and demonstration will be held on Friday, September 6 starting at 7pm in the Artist Studios Building at the BCA, 551 Tremont Street.