Northern Lights.mn to Host Grand Opening Celebration of Interactive Multimedia Artwork Platform at Union Depot with Workshops and Reception
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – On Wednesday, October 1 Northern Lights.mn will host an Open House at Saint Paul’s Union Depot to Celebrate the Grand Opening of its Interactive Multimedia Artwork Platform, an interactive installation in the Waiting Room that includes two commissioned public art projects:
Amateur Intelligence Radio by Daily tous les jours : This is a radio program broadcasting from the Union Depot, hosted by the building and powered by the visitors’ stories.
Jim Campbell: This work is a light sculpture that features an array of LED bulbs suspended from the ceiling of the Waiting Room, which displays dynamic figures swimming across the sculpture.
Amateur Intelligence Radio (AIR) is the voice of the building, connecting people to Union Depot. As people come and go, AIR narrates activities within its walls and stages little interventions to celebrate the renewed life at the historic landmark. The day’s events will begin with a two-part, drop-in Broadcast Your Voice: A Very Short Story Writing Workshop with AIR from 1-4 p.m. During the first part, guests will learn how to write a story that’s less than one minute in length. Participants may bring in a story or poem they’ve written or write a new story during the session. The sessions will start on the hour at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and will be taught by Lara Avery, author of two novels, Anything But Ordinary and A Million Miles Away, and editor and contributor at Revolver.
During the second part of the workshop, guests will learn how to upload their stories for broadcast on AIR’s online platform – stories can be programmed to be played at a certain time of day or year. Participants may use their smart phone, tablet, laptop or work from memory. Stories can be submitted to airstories.mn. From 4-7 p.m. there will be a tour of the many public art works throughout Union Depot, followed by a reception at Christos. Both events are free and open to the public. For more information visit http://northern.lights.mn/.
Getting to Union Depot
Bike: Bicycle parking is located at the East Plaza/bus platform, North Plaza/4th Street, Kellogg entrances, Rail View Picnic Area and throughout the parking facilities
Bus: Daily service to bus platform on Metro Transit buses 21 and 54, Metro Transit buses 63, 70, 350, 351, 361 and 364 stop at the corner of Kellogg Boulevard and Broadway Street
Weekday-only service on Metro Transit buses 53, 94, 262, 417 | MVTA buses 480, 484, 489
Light Rail: Daily service on Metro Transit's Green Line
Park: Union Depot parking facilities and electric vehicle charging stations
Car Share: Zip Car and Car2Go
About UNION DEPOT...The beautifully renovated Union Depot, originally built in the 1920s, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority (RCRRA) owns Union Depot which offers a full complement of transportation services: Amtrak, Metro Green Line, Jefferson Lines, Greyhound, megabus.com, Metro Transit and MVTA buses and a bike facility. JLL, under contract with RCRRA, is responsible for management of Union Depot and creating a new, unique gathering place at this historic landmark. For more information, go to uniondepot.org.