FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nicholas BeJeaux, Communications & Public Relations Manager, (225) 344-5272, ext. 125,
World-Renowned “HeartBeat” Performance to Celebrate
American Heart Month at LASM
Multi-media Artist Christopher Janney’s Tour de Force Featured in his Presentation of Exploring the Hidden Music: LASM
BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Art & Science Museum, along with Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, is proud to present Exploring the Hidden Music: LASM, an immersive multi-media performance created by pioneering artist Christopher Janney. The piece will be performed on two nights, January 31 and February 1, at LASM’s Irene W. Pennington Planetarium.
Janney’s artwork is currently featured in a solo show titled Sound Is An Invisible Color at LASM. He also most recently completed Harmonic Grove: OLOLCH, the grand entryway to the newly-opened Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.
“LASM is honored to present the multidisciplinary work of Christopher Janney,” said Elizabeth Weinstein, LASM’s Director of Interpretation & Chief Curator. “A visual artist, architect and musician, Janney creates an innovative, multisensory form of art that once experienced is truly memorable. The concert adds yet another dimension to this experience.”
Janney’s unique production Exploring the Hidden Music: LASM will be a special treat for Baton Rouge audiences. Inspired by Louisiana’s musical roots, this composition will draw upon aspects of Zydeco, southern Gospel, southern blues and shuffle-beat rhythms combined with electronic instruments and sounds. Patrons will also delight in the dance and light displays which will be featured in the performance. Baton Rouge’s own award-winning vocalist Quiana Lynell, trumpeter George Bell and additional local performers will join Janney and his musicians from the Boston area.
The spectacular show will culminate in a special performance of “HeartBeat,” dedicated to the new Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital. Composed by Janney for Mikhail Baryshnikov in 1998, musicians will perform to the sound of a dancer’s heartbeat as she moves in “real time.” The piece, which makes all viewers especially aware of their own heartbeat, is even more poignant to experience during the first weekend of American Heart Month. Traditionally the month for all things heart related, February was named American Heart Month in 1963 to encourage Americans to join in the battle against heart disease, the leading cause of death in Louisiana.
Trained as an architect, visual artist and composer, Christopher Janney has been presenting multimedia performances across the globe for four decades. In addition, his innovative use of sound, light and interactive technology in architecture has made him one of the most prolific and influential artists working with these media today.
All proceeds from Exploring the Hidden Music: LASM will be equally divided between the new Art & Wellness Program at LASM and the Arts in Medicine program at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.
“The Art & Wellness Program we are developing at LASM is a perfect encapsulation of our mission to bring art and science together,” said Serena Pandos. “Research shows that the creative process can lower cortisol levels, which reduces stress and aids in healing. We are so thankful to our wonderful sponsors for helping make this performance a reality and helping us support art, science and healing in our community.”
The production of Exploring the Hidden Music: LASM is generously underwritten by Kathryn and Steven Nathanson with additional support from Winifred Reilly, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and Louisiana Cardiology Associates.
Tickets for this performance will be available at lasm.org/events. For more information on the Louisiana Art & Science Museum and its programs, visit lasm.org. To support Exploring the Hidden Music: LASM, contact Elizabeth Weinstein at eweinstein@lasm.org.
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Images: “HeartBeat,” the finale of Exploring the Hidden Music: LASM, blends art & science to create a unique performance unlike any other.
About the Louisiana Art & Science Museum
A nonprofit organization housed on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Baton Rouge, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum enhances the understanding and appreciation of art and science for general audiences and students by presenting unique, educational and entertaining experiences that encourage discovery, inspire creativity, and foster the pursuit of knowledge. More information about the Art & Science Museum is available at lasm.org.
The Louisiana Art & Science Museum is supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council. Funding is also provided by generous corporations, foundations, and individual donors, as well as the National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works, the City of Baton Rouge, and the Parish of East Baton Rouge.
