Brodsworth Hall Lighting

Camel Event Production are using the Apollo Ensemble system over the next two weeks to help it light up Brodsworth Hall near Doncaster. As part of the Enchanted Gardens event, the Apollo system is allowing visitors to take control of lighting the main house.

Camel are testing the latest version of the Apollo Ensemble, which will be released in the new year. It incorporates some additional lighting control elements and tools to increase flexibility. For the house lighting they are making use of the auto-fader block that allows a switch to control a preset fade.

MRI - Interviews

As part of the MRI project (Me, Myself and MRI) we need to interview each of the project participants and record this - both audio and video. I've been volunteered as the interviewer, so I'm doing my best Michael Parkinson impression for the project. Luckily it is just the interviewees that are being recorded.

The questions have been selected by the group and seem to be doing a good job at finding out about our participants. You can see the results early next year when we launch at the National Science Learning Centre. 

SKUG Performance

The Apollo Ensemble system is already getting international acclaim, with a unit currently under test at the SKUG Centre in Norway. It's being used today as part of their opening performance.

Updating the Activity Hall

The Activity Hall - Before the upgrade work

I've been working with the Dales School in Morton-on-Swale for a number of years, helping them incorporate new accessible technology into the school. The latest upgrade involves ripping out the existing ShowMagic system in the Activity Hall and replacing it with the Ensemble system. This makes the interactive lighting accessible to more of the pupils at the school and makes setting up the room more approachable for the staff.

KidsOut Filming

Today we made a video of how to build the KidsOut Portable Sensory Rooms at the National Centre for Early Music in York. The idea is for a DVD to accompany the units to allow people to move them between different venues.

Interactive Sound and Light area at Dame Hannah School

Over the past few weeks we've been building an interactive light and sound area at Dame Hannah School in Ivybridge. This is part of a larger music room in their post-16 unit.

The room is based around the Apollo Ensemble system, with all the lighting and music controllable from a range of switches and sensors.

Today I was down at the school providing some training to the staff.

News: Student samples the world of work with Apollo Creative

Not everyone realises it, but employers’ value work experience almost as much as the qualifications you achieve. As well as increasing your knowledge and experience in the world of work it helps to build on your experience of life within the workplace.

One person who doesn’t need reminding of this is University of Hull degree student Ben Johnson, who has been on a placement with Knaresborough based Apollo Creative for the last two months.

Ben is studying a three year Creative Music Technology degree at the University’s Scarborough Campus. This course centres around the creative use of the latest technologies including sound recording, mixing, sound design, electronics, web authoring and multimedia.

Mark Hildred, Creative Director of Apollo Creative, regularly presents a lecture on the course covering real-world applications of this technology. Following Mark’s most recent lecture, Ben was inspired to approach Apollo about securing a work placement over his summer vacation.

Apollo Creative was set up to specialise in the innovative design, development and manufacture of interactive light and sound products, providing a perfect fit for Ben and his studies. Ben was given the opportunity to help work on the development of the company’s latest product the “Ensemble16” – an interactive control system that allows lighting and sound to be controlled from switch and sensor inputs.

The product, due for launch in September 2008, can be used across a range of disciplines including museums, play areas, and sensory rooms. It also has applications within special needs schools, something Ben has been exploring through a series of workshops at the Forest School in Knaresborough - a special school for pupils aged between 2½ and 16 who have a range of learning difficulties.

Ben has also worked on the innovative sci-art project “Me, Myself and MRI”, designing a working prototype of the final exhibition. This project explores the idea of individuality using contemporary neuro-imaging technology, photography and audio-video work, and is a collaboration between several partners including Geodesic Arts and Archbishop Holgate's School, York. The final exhibition is due to launch at the National Science Learning Centre in February 2009 before touring around galleries and public spaces across the region.

Ben Johnson says – “It is fantastic to have been given this opportunity to work in such a creative environment especially as it is so close to what I have been studying. I hope that my experience here will help me with my final year studies and look forward to coming back to see how some of the projects have progressed.”

New KidsOut Sensory Room - Frenchay Hospital

Today we installed a second Portable Sensory Room for KidsOut. Based on the prototype, currently based in a school in Reading, this unit features some changes based on feedback.

Featuring a bubble tube, fibre optics, colour changes lighting, star cloth, projector and sound system, the space will be used by children on the Barbara Rusell Ward whilst there is no school.

The unit will be based in the school room at Frenchay Hospital over the Summer, before being moved to a new venue in september.

News: Apollo gets creative with Sci-Art project

Apollo Creative is excited to announce its involvement with the innovative sci-art project Me, Myself and MRI. As a key partner, Apollo Creative is providing technical expertise through the involvement of its Creative Director Mark Hildred.

The project, being lead by the arts partnership Geodesic Arts, has been awarded funding by the Wellcome Trust and Arts Council England. It has been designed to explore the idea of individuality using contemporary neuroimaging technology, photography and audio-video work.

MRI Scan of Geodesic artist Damian Murphy's head

Geodesic are working together with Archbishop Holgate CE School, York and York Neuroimaging Centre to realise the project, which will culminate in a touring exhibition of digital portraits in 2009.

Year 8 students from the school have been working on the project since the beginning of 2008 and will choose six people to be the focus of the work. Approaches are currently being made to a range of people suggest by the group, from teachers to celebrities. The foundation for their selection is based on the question “what makes an individual?” and could focus on anything from their career, their background through to their every day lives.

The chosen subjects will be invited to undergo an MRI scan as well as sit for photographic portraits and take part in video and audio interviews. The information and data collected will then be transformed into a series of digital portraits which will provide a unique representation and insight into who they really are.

Mark Hildred, Apollo Creative and Technical Producer on the project, has been involved since the project’s inception and will be responsible for the realisation of the final exhibition. Mark has been actively involved in both the planning and running of the project sessions within the school, together with liaising with the galleries for the final exhibition.

Mark Hildred said – “It is always exciting to work with young people on innovative arts projects such as this. At Apollo Creative we actively seek involvement in this area as it helps us to develop new ideas and technologies. This ethos often provides us with ways for us to expand upon the work we already do within schools; and so develop the potential for future creative and technically skilled employees.”

James Evans, Head of Science, explains why the Archbishop Holgate CE School got involved. “It is an exciting, collaborative project that has engaged the pupils, teachers and outside agencies. It is an opportunity to celebrate the exciting developments in science, explore the ethical issues raised and marry them with the creativity and expression of art."

He believes that the project is significant to the pupils as “to experience the ‘wow’ factor of science with inspirational people, to make links with many facets of the curriculum, to be engaged by science and express through art, ICT and media is priceless.”

As well as learning about creative digital technology, the students are also exploring the development of contemporary neuro-imaging techniques such as MRI and MEG and the science behind them. Staff at the York Neuroimaging Centre are acting as scientific advisors to the project, explaining how modern-day techniques have developed, investigating ethical issues surrounding these techniques and carrying out MRI scans on the people selected to take part in the project.

The students are also finding out more about the development of portraiture as an art form and the links between science and the arts, as they are working with an art historian to discover how art and science together can help us make sense of the world around us.

The final exhibition is due to launch at the National Science Learning Centre in January 2009 before touring to York Hospital and Impressions Gallery, Bradford. The project forms part of the community and education programme for SightSonic, York’s International Festival of Digital Arts.

For further information, see the projects blog at: www.geodesicarts.org or contact Mark Hildred

MRI Project - Interactivity

The Me, Myself and MRI project continued today with a session at the school on interactive technology and interactive art works.

We started the session by letting the group have a play with the Apollo Ensemble and some of our prototype sensors. As we had a very short time to setup, this demo only involved playing sounds and music rather than a full sensory experience. The group seemed quite excited by the idea of being able to control sounds from different body movements.

The rest of the session involved linking this to how we might control the final portrait exhibition. More info on the project blog:

http://geodesicarts-mri.blogspot.com/

Muscial Monuments

Apollo will be supporting Accessible Arts Musical Monuments project from the 28th July - 1st August. They'll be using the Apollo Ensemble system to help young people of all abilities create and perform their own music.

Today I provided them with some quick training on the system to help with their planning for the project.

UPDATE

Accessible Arts have decided to use the Apollo Ensemble later in the year for a project with the SoundWeavers.

Gordon Parry Updates

Developments at the Gordon Parry Centre in Leeds continue as they begin to explore more aspects of the Apollo Ensemble. Having fitted a small moving head light during my last visit, today I was adding extra features to the control block in the Ensemble software and providing some general software updates.

The Centre have been working with us as we develop the Ensemble system, contributing their expertise and feedback. The flexibility built into the software means that we have been able to implement many changes onsite. This includes adding lighting fixtures, simplifying the display and changing help text.

The Centre opens officially in October 2008.

Gordon Parry Centre Training

This afternoon I provided some training at the Gordon Parry Centre in Leeds on their ever expanding light and sound room. The room runs on the Apollo Ensemble system, with switches and sensors plugged into sockets spread around the room. The latest addition is a small LED moving head light that can be told to point anywhere in the room.

This project is providing us with vital feedback to refine the Apollo Ensemble software.

News: Hospital donation helps celebrate record start to 2008

Apollo Creative has donated a state of the art bubble tube to the Harrogate and District Hospital Paediatric Ward.

The bubble tube has been donated to the twenty one bed Woodlands Paediatric Ward for children ranging in age from newborn to sixteen years old.

The bubble tube is an interesting and stimulating feature which creates stunning visual effects through the slow release of bubbles, which change through a myriad of colours.

Developed using the latest in LED technology to create stronger colour intensity, the bubble tubes are used extensively within the sensory market; providing stimulation and interest to seriously ill and disabled children and adults. Recently they have grown in prominence as a contemporary interior design feature within hotel lobbies, restaurants, bars, reception/waiting areas and homes. This growth has seen record sales during the first quarter of 2008, resulting in this special donation.

Hospital Play Specialist for the Woodlands Paediatric Ward, Anne Riach said – “The bubble tube is amazing. It is bright and stimulating and will provide a wonderful distraction for children on the ward.”

Mark Hildred, Creative Director for Apollo Creative said – “I am pleased to be able help create a more relaxing environment within the children’s ward by the donation of this tube. This seemed to be the perfect way to celebrate a record start to 2008, with sales of bubble tubes up over 100%!”

Whilst taking photos of children enjoying the new bubble tube, nurses on the ward commented on how well the bubble tube had been received by both children and parents alike.  One nurse said that the bubble tube provided vital relaxation for parents at what can be a very worrying time for them.  They thanked us for our kind generosity and also wanted us to know that it was a treat for them too!

Apollo Creative designs and manufactures a selection of specialist sensory display products including fibre optics, bubble walls, tubes and domes. It supplies a range of distributors across the UK.  The company also engages in a number of specialist projects across areas including arts, museum installations and education.

Harrogate Hospital

A nice part of this work is when you get the occasional chance to give things away! I've just been to Harrogate Hospital to install a bubble tube in one of their Children's Wards. As the closest hospital to where we are based in seemed natural to see if they could make use of a tube. Hopefully it will bring some enjoyment and relaxation to the young people spending time there.

MRI - Working with video

Today was the latest session before the summer with the young people taking part in the Me, Myself and MRI project. The primary focus was on using video to capture a portrait of someone and the different methods we might use.

More on the project blog at: http://geodesicarts.blogspot.com/

The fountain is working!

Over the last couple of days I've been down in Bristol on what is probably my last trip to work on the Interactive Fountain at Luckwell Primary School. This has been a great project and involved working with the children at the school on the ideas and design of the fountain.



My job this time was to present the final, installed fountain to the children and show them what it could do. Obviously this involved lots of getting wet (in part due to a few impromptu thunderstorms) and some very loud shouting. I think my voice will need a few days to recover!

My thanks to everyone at the school for making me feel so welcome.

News: Apollo Design4Retail for Clarins

A custom bubble tube containing Clarins products

Interactive light, sound and bubble experts Apollo Creative have collaborated with retail design specialists Design4Retail to provide Clarins with an exclusive point of purchase (POP) display to help promote the launch of their HydraQuench skincare range in Selfridges' London store.

Design4Retail were instructed to communicate the benefits of Clarins’ new brand in a unique manner and approached Apollo to assist their Technical Designer to create a stunning promotional feature.

Four extra wide tubes were created and customised with ultra-bright blue LED illumination. These elegant bubble tubes were used to portray the idea of hydration and were specifically designed to allow for the suspension of the new product range within oxygenated water; creating a mesmerising and attractive focus for Selfridges’ customers.

Apollo’s skill and experience within this field have helped them develop a leading edge reputation for providing revolutionary new products into the marketplace. As well as providing a standard range of products (which include bubble tubes, walls, domes and fibre optic light sources), Apollo also support special projects and companies with unique/bespoke requirements.

More recently Apollo’s product have grown in prominence as contemporary interior design features and can be seen in hotel lobbies, restaurants, bars and homes; and current projects include interactive fountains, exhibition stand designs, light and sound rooms, multi-sensory environments, digital play areas and museum interactives.

Jon Vinall, Director at Design4Retail said – “Apollo Creative provided us with effective products and a co-operative project management service. Our own technical designer was able to work with the team at Apollo to ensure that our exact needs were taken on board. The bubble towers we purchased from Apollo were delivered on time, to spec; were highly effective and used in an unusual way to create a successful promotional launch.”

For further information, please contact Ben Johnson on 01423 798232 or e-mail sales@apollocreative.co.uk.

Sense of Place [Revisited II]

This afternoon I acted as Technical Director for the setting up and running of A Sense of Place. This interactive sound and light piece reflects a 2000 year link between two historic sites in the City of York.

A Sense of Place [Revisited II] is a re-working of the original piece which was presented in Bootham Bar for three months in 2005. This version has the emphasis on the audio composition, with visual cues provided by images from the original installation. It was presented in Bedern Hall, a 14th Century dining hall of the Vicars Choral of York Minster.



This performance was part of a sound tour of the city for a conference on 'Virtual Audio and Past Environments', organised by SpACE-Net.

Fountain update visit

I visited Bristol today to visit the workshops where the interactive fountain is being created for Luckwell School. The main structure is now in place and the day centred around testing and setting up some of the sensor systems.

I'm aiming to return to Bristol in a couple of weeks to work with the fountain onsite at the school.

News: Apollo beats the drum for Jessie's Fund

A child playing on a keyboard

Knaresborough based Apollo Creative is pleased to announce that it will be supporting UK charity Jessie's Fund throughout the course of 2008 as their nominated charity of the year.

Jessie’s Fund is a UK charity set up to help seriously ill and disabled children by using music as a form of communication and for therapy. The charity works with children with special needs within hospices, hospitals and other centres for children with special needs providing a wide range of musical instruments and giving children access to creative music-making and music therapy.

Communication is a basic need for all but for many children verbal interaction causes difficulties; some have no means of communication at all. This therapeutic use of music can provide a powerful and profound way in which these children can express themselves and connect with the world around them.

Lesley Schatzberger, Development Director for Jessie’s Fund said – “Jessie’s Fund is delighted to have been chosen as Apollo Creative’s Charity of the Year. We use music technology in our work and have seen how powerful it can be in giving children access to a creative outlet. For those who have little chance to participate in normal childhood activities, technology can provide a fantastic means of expression, and Apollo’s work in developing further the possibilities resonates so well with our own aims.”

Mark Hildred, Creative Director for Apollo Creative adds – “With music and interaction being such an important focus for Apollo Creative this year, Jessie’s Fund was the ideal match. As a drummer I am aware of the importance music plays in my life and to me the value of the work carried out by Jessie’s Fund is immeasurable. Over the next twelve months we hope to be able to bring this charity to the attention of even more people so that its work can be recognised across the UK.”

Official opening of Sensory Room at Whitley Park School

The portable sensory room installed at Whitley Park Infant School was officially opened today with a reception. Since the initial installation last week, all 320 children at the school have been through and experience the area.

Ann Tanner, Headteacher, commented:

"We are excited at Whitley Park to be given the chance to explore with the children the possibilities for learning this brings. We aim to create stimulating learning opportunities for the children, develop their language and create wonderful learning environments that give them a sense of the world around us. Themes including seaworld, space, gardens, and jungles come immediately to mind but others will emerge as the staff team explore the possibilities.

"We are privileged to be part of this project and we will do our best to help 'KidsOut' provide more of these portable sensory rooms for other children across the UK. Our plan is to extend the use within our local community to the two Children's Centres in Whitley, for children to visit the room and have fun exploring it. My thanks to Mark and Kevin for the design, ideas and for making this dream a reality."

Me, Myself & MRI sessions start

Today was the first official session in Archbishops Holgates School, York for the 'Me, Myself & MRI' project. Following on from the introduction we carried out before Christmas, the young people today got the oppotunity to visit the York Neuro-Imaging Centre (YNIC).

A key part of the work is to involve the young people in both the arts and science side of the project. You can find out more on the project blog.

Portable Sensory Room

Today we built the prototype of the Portable Sensory Room at Whitley Park School in Reading. Funded by KidsOut, the room will be undergoing tests at the school over the next few months. It is hoped that the feedback from these will help us develop the design of the space.

Coloured lighting and background sounds are controlled by the Apollo Controller, with users inserting a USB stick to activate the different themes. Other lighting effects are controlled by front panel switches.