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CHICAGO — Navy Pier announced today its newest public art installation, Our Common Home, an interactive art experience designed to shine a light on climate change and the global impact of our individual actions.The exhibit’s U.S. debut will run from Friday, Nov. 26 to Sunday, Jan. 2. The interactive art display, created by Montreal-based media art studio Iregular, takes the form of four large-scale installations, each of which tackle a different environmental aspect. The four installations will be on display in four locations throughout Navy Pier including Fifth Third Bank Family Pavilion, near the fountain at Polk Bros Park, Pier Park near the Centennial Wheel and on the South Dock near Billy Goat Tavern.
“We are honored to host the U.S. debut for Our Common Home, created to educate the public and build awareness about the ongoing fight against climate change,” said Marilynn Gardner, President and CEO of Navy Pier. ”This new eye-opening interactive art installation is the latest example of how Navy Pier fulfills its mission as a nonprofit cultural institution to be a world-class public place. The People’s Pier encourages movement, exploration, interaction and discovery for our visitors.”
Visitors will be able to interact directly with the projections vocally, through movement or using light from their cellphones. All of the projections are accompanied by a soundtrack designed to enhance the experience. These all-new sensory experiences are made possible by CURSOR, an exclusive technology developed by Iregular. The technology can transform a building façade into an adaptable, expressive, multi-user interactive display. CURSOR uses optics, computer vision, artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect and track objects and people in large spaces. To learn more about Our Common Home, click here.
“Through our work, we aim to create conversations around the global environmental crisis and make people think on how their individual actions have a global impact” said Daniel Iregui, Founder of Iregular. “We are thrilled that Navy Pier will be the setting of Our Common Home’s U.S. premiere and serve as a platform to build reflection for these current issues threatening our existence.”
Guests are also encouraged to check out other Pier-wide experiences like Light Up the Lake – Navy Pier’s new indoor holiday light-sculpture experience, also open from Nov. 26 to Jan. 2, along with the iconic Centennial Wheel, dining, retail and more. Guests can now extend their visit with an overnight stay at the new Sable hotel. Please visit Navy Pier’s website for a full list of open and available establishments.
Navy Pier is operating in accordance with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) as well as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with updated guidelines recommending that everyone over 2 years of age wear masks in public settings, regardless of vaccination status. Click here to view Navy Pier’s COVID-19 operations and updates.
For b-roll and images of Our Common Home (courtesy of Iregular – Alice Sanz), click here.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE NAVY PIER PRESS KIT, INCLUDING B-ROLL, PHOTOS AND LOGO.
About Navy Pier
Located on Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is the top nonprofit tourism destination in the Midwest, stretching more than six city blocks and typically welcoming nearly 9 million annual guests. Originally opened in 1916 as a shipping and recreation facility, this Chicago landmark showcases more than 50 acres of parks, restaurants, attractions, retail shops, sightseeing and dining cruise boats, exposition facilities and more.
The Pier celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016 with the unveiling of the iconic Centennial Wheel, Polk Bros Park, Family Pavilion and Peoples Energy Welcome Pavilion. In 2021, Navy Pier continued to usher in its second century with ongoing Pier-wide redevelopment efforts—including Sable, a 223-room Hilton hotel, new restaurants and partnerships, and thrilling additions to Pier Park. The Pier is also proud to continue providing free, year-round arts and cultural programming designed to inspire, educate and connect communities across the city and globe. Click here to donate to Navy Pier, a mission-driven 501(c)(3) organization, in support of the organization’s post-pandemic revival and free public programming. For more information, visit www.navypier.org.