Artists Ian Brill and Theron Brown have created an otherworldly experience with “Inflection,” a walk-in, immersive opportunity that joins ever-shifting, colorful light patterns with jazz music.
This multisensory installation opened to the public May 23 at Curated Storefront’s “Outside the Box” at Northside District in Akron. Pittsburgh artist Brill created “Inflection” inside a cargo container with a custom-designed ceiling of LED paneling and mirrored walls that remind visitors of fun-house mirrors, creating the illusion of never-ending depth.
Ever-shifting light patterns unfold rhythmically to the music of Akron jazz musician Theron Brown, who collaborated with Brill to create a “living” musical accompaniment that responds in real time to Brill’s visual environment. The experience was made possible by a new technology that Brill developed in his studio that distributes sound across the interior of the shipping container to align with shifting light patterns.
The music for “Inflection” comes from Brown’s latest album, “Mr. Magnetic,” released in November. The synthesis of sound and image in “Inflection” includes enough music for visitors to listen to for hours.
Brill named his multisensory installation “Inflection” after the idea of an inflection point, where environment, perception and self-awareness converge during the interactive experience.
“Engineering to let this be in a cargo container was harder than you would imagine,” Brill said in a release. “It also opens a lot of possibilities and opportunities for new audiences.”
The installation is a partnership between Curated Storefront and Akron Soul Train, with funding coming from a 2024 Knight New Work grant that Akron Soul Train received from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. “Inflection” is presented by Akron Soul Train and hosted by Curated Storefront, whose “Outside the Box” outdoor space at Northside also includes murals on the exterior of eight shipping containers.
Schedule for ‘Inflection’
The opening party for “Inflection” drew about 70 guests to the free event May 23, despite the rain. Because of the weather, Curated Storefront will host a “do-over” party at the site 5-7 p.m. May 30, which will include the art, music and light refreshments. “Outside the Box” is within the DORA district, so guests can grab adult beverages from Northside bars and restaurants.
Visiting “Inflection” inside the shipping container comes with several guidelines. Guests are asked to enter three at a time, after the previous group has exited. To protect the mirrored floor, visitors also must put on booties before entering. Those wearing cleats, stilettos or sharp-heeled shoes are asked to remove them before entering.
Guests are also asked to close the door once inside to enjoy the full immersive experience, which includes flashing lights.
Colleen Suich, executive director for Akron Soul Train, stressed that the multisensory “Inflection” allows visitors to engage with contemporary art by slowing down and experiencing space, sound and perception in new ways.
“The technology is consistently adapting, so it’s kind of playing and learning the music and continually in process, so it’s going to always create sort of a new synthesis of visual,” Suich said of Brill’s technology at the installation May 26.
Brown’s “Mr. Magnetic” album was recorded in an immersive audio studio that created spatial audio, with recorded sounds moving around in a 3D listening space.
“We’ve got artists and technology bouncing off of each other in a really interesting way. They’re both working very cutting edge with how they’re using it to shift and change their own work,” said Heather Meeker, executive director for Curated Storefront.
Brill and Brown previously collaborated with the 2021 installation “Band,” in which Brill installed more than 2,250 square feet of LED panels on the top, 19th floor of the former Akron City Center Hotel to create a programmatic, immersive light installation. His work with Curated Storefront goes back to 2018, when he began creating digital installations along Main Street.
That included “Reverie,” a programmatic light installation that covered the facade of a vacant former Summit County office building at 37 N. Main St. downtown. Brill teaches at Penn State University’s World Campus/Digital Arts programs.
More background on ‘Inflection’
Brill’s “Inflection” offers double the art experience, with a bright, geometric-looking mural by Liane Engstrom, “The Connection of Spaces,” adorning the outside of the shipping container.
He started doing research on materials for the installation in early 2025 and began building it that fall. “Inflection” was installed in Akron over a two-week period.
Akron Soul Train is a multidisciplinary artist residency program that has supported more than 100 artists. Curated Storefront transforms vacant and underutilized street-level spaces into art displays to combat economic blight and create an engaging environment.
Both organizations were founded through the 2016 Knight Foundation Challenge grants and are celebrating their 10th anniversaries. Both Akron Soul Train and Curated Storefront are nonprofit organizations.
“There’s so much foot traffic here in this area on a Saturday night and so we just really want to invite people to come over and experience this as party of why they’re here,” Meeker said of “Inflection,” which is across the parking lot from Luigi’s and Jilly’s Music Room at Northside. “If we can some more activity going over here and some reasons for people to walk over, it’s something that, over time, starts to become another hangout place.”
Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.
Details
Installation: “Inflection”
Where: “Outside the Box” at TrueNorth Akron, 110 N. Main St., Northside District
When: Continuing 5-7 p.m. Saturdays through October, weather permitting
Cost: Free
Opening party “do-over”: 5-7 p.m. May 30, including music, light refreshments. Free.
Information: akronsoultrain.org/exhibitions-performances, facebook.com/share/v/1HKBC7PVnL/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Light + music = multisensory immersion at Akron art installation
Reporting by Kerry Clawson, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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