SOUND FX NYC / LA / CHI

2021

SOUND FX is a multi-sensory experience that celebrates sound through art. Curated and produced by Justin "JB" Bolognino // META, it showcases music and sound design inspired by FX originals through visually arresting sculptures outfitted with bespoke soundscapes — in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

FX collaborated with internationally acclaimed artists including Creative Riff, SOFTlab, Emilie Baltz, and Vita Motus to create outdoor immersive sound and art installations that evoke the emotional experience of FX programming. Each installation is inspired by a different genre, and the sculpture designs are crafted to enhance the composed soundscape.

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New York City — Hudson Yards

Located in Hudson Yards Public Square & Gardens, September 9–13, 2021 — designed by Creative Riff and SOFTlab, and curated and produced by Justin "JB" Bolognino // META.

SOUND FX NYC was built around the theme of Drama and featured theme music, dialogue, and sound effects from FX Network's "Mr. In Between," "American Crime Story Snowfall," "Mayans M.C.," "Sons of Anarchy," and "The Bridge." As the audience could see themselves reflected in the art, the installation focused on sounds and dialogue that told stories of personal reflection and growth against soundtrack music, and foley sounds that created a scenic backdrop — motorcycle sounds for Sons of Anarchy or Mayans, the sounds of cameras clicking from a press conference in American Crime Story. Dialogue represented main characters' self-reflection and growth, and "mirrored" guests reflecting on themselves in the sculpture.

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Chicago — Congress Plaza

Located in Congress Plaza South, September 16–20 — designed by Emilie Baltz and Creative Riff for FX Networks, and curated and produced by Justin "JB" Bolognino // META.

Inspired by the visual rhythm of modernist Chicago architecture, as well as the timing of great comedy the Windy City is known for, TEMPO is an interactive sculpture that uses metallic strings to create the world's first 6-sided comedic harp. The strings reference both music-making and music playing, inviting passersby to play this modern take on the sounds of FX-inspired comedy.

Each time a guest touches a string, a sound is triggered that complements an upbeat, FX-inspired background track that plays from within the sculpture. At night, the sculpture lights up, creating a dramatic visual effect that also reacts to guests' interactions, adding joy and delight to the landscape of Chicago through play.

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Los Angeles — Grand Park

Located in Grand Park, September 23–27 — designed by Vita Motus and Creative Riff for FX Networks, and curated and produced by Justin "JB" Bolognino // META.

"Like a moth to the flame" is a reference to an irrepressible attraction, an irresistible pull. Through the blending of futuristic 3D printing technology with avant-garde industrial beauty, our wings are a dark reflection of modern interpretations of horror. At the fulcrum of the experience, the viewer is inserted and engulfed into a chaotic hive of audio before moving into a relative aural sanctuary, vacillating between dissonance and harmony.

A subversion of the ubiquitous angel wings of LA, our installation calls to a darker contingency, hoping to inspire new possibilities.