MONTRANSISCOPE is an animation based public art installation extending along a section of the Monon Trail, north of 25th Street,

Indianapolis. As cyclists ride alongside the Montransiscope, they view an abstract animation inspired by location history or other Indianapolis subjects. The duration and framerate of the of the animation is influenced by the speed of the rider. This work is an appropriation of Bill Brand's Masstransiscope (1980, restored 2008). Mass has been replaced in the title by Mon, an abbreviation of Monon Trail. In Brands work, large animation frames are mounted on front lit panels hung in a New York subway tunnel. Originally, trains would carry viewers/commuters rapidly past one panel and the next causing the panels to animate as a flipbook might. Likewise, with Montransiscope, as cyclists ride along side the installations, the individual frames appear animated. In this way, the motion and energy of a city, its dwellers, and their transit are directly referenced in the motion of the animation form, while the unexpected presence of whimsical art concept and novelty breaks the monotony of everyday travel. This direct intervention becomes a shared experience for bicycle commuters to connect over, building community in a shared location. Montransiscope references back to Brands work in name, and

also the trains that once passed beneath and beside the Monon Trail. This art experiment is part of an ongoing body of work by Ezra Birt, exploring animation, revitalized technologies, illusion and perception, motion and kinesis, and notions of public and semi-public space and personage. Simultaneously, it is informed by his personal experiences as a bicycle commuter in Indianapolis and the desire to enhance that community along with the city at large. In original conceit, Montransiscope constitutes roughly 100 animation frames: finished, mounted, evenly spaced, on the locations east chain link fence for a decided duration. A portion of this project is dedicated to the development of a sound means of display emphasising the animation effect. To date, one possible solution may be open sided, 8 wooden cubes. The creation of this work will build on the artists past experience in woodcraft and modular design. Animation frames may be printed on weather resistant materials and affixed to the interior back side of each cube so as to be replaceable. In this way, Montransiscope is not only a site specific installation, but also a platform by which further animated works may be created and shared by other artists.

Further information contact: Ezra Birt ezraBirt@gmail.com +1 (812) 607.0205 and a few social medias

Copyright - Ezra Birt, 2013.