In September, the Association for Public Art (aPA) in Philadelphia presents a major new site-specific work by the internationally acclaimed artist Cai Guo-Qiang. Commissioned by aPA with Fung Collaboratives on the occasion of the centennial of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Cai Guo-Qiang: Fireflies invites the public to actively experience the grand boulevard as a nocturnal dreamscape conjured from the languorous movements of bobbing clusters of glowing handcrafted Chinese lanterns and groups of customized peddle vehicles.
Fireflies, the artist’s largest public art project in the US in a decade, runs for approximately four weekends, Thursdays through Sundays, four hours a night, from Thursday, September 14 to Sunday, October 8, 2017.
For the opening ceremony on September 14, Cai Guo-Qiang will orchestrate a dream-like light and movement performance. Employing as many as 900 luminous colorful lanterns attached in clusters, 27 customized pedicabs will glide along the Parkway, moving as an ensemble and sending the lanterns into swirls and bobs, creating a luminous choreography.
The key participatory element of Fireflies commences the next day, as members of the public are invited to board the vehicles to take rides up and down the Parkway from Sister Cities Park to Iroquois Park near the Philadelphia Museum Art. Others will observe the delicate aerial dance of the luminous orbs from a distance.
The aPA is currently searching for individuals to participate in the project as Art Ambassadors. We are looking for high-energy, responsible individuals with strong communication skills and experience in tourism, hospitality, or customer service.
Art Ambassadors for Fireflies will be the public face of the aPA during the run of the event. Main functions will include:
• Set up and breakdown of project hubs at Iroquois Park and Sister Cities Park
• Crowd control and assistance during the Opening Night ceremony
• Answering questions about the project for the general public
• Registration of public for pedicab rides
• Soliciting and signing up new members for the Association for Public Art
Ambassadors will be paid $75 per shift; shifts are tentatively scheduled to run 5:30PM-10:30PM each night of the run (Thursdays through Sundays, from Thursday, September 14 to Sunday, October 8, 2017). All Ambassadors will be asked to participate in an orientation session to be scheduled before September 14th.
To apply, please email natalie.diener@gmail.com with “Fireflies Art Ambassador Applicant” as the subject line. Include your phone number and details of any relevant experience in your email.