There were many highlights of this year’s First Night celebration around Boston, but one of the most interesting — apologies to Patti Smith and Walter Sickert — was Zebbler Studios’ architectural video mapping of the Boston Public Library.
Led by acclaimed video artist Peter “Zebbler” Berdovsky, who was once named the 12th-best video artist in the world by DJ Magazine, the project took 3D designs and broadcast them along the Dartmouth Street side of the library.
It also showed the city had moved on from the 2007 “Mooninite incident,” in which Berdovsky was accused of creating a bomb hoax after placing LED gadgets around the city to promote the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie.
In case you missed the spectacle on December 31, the Charlestown-based crew has posted video of the installation. Here’s what Zebbler Studios had to say about the First Night experience, with video after the jump…
Video projections, along with a custom made soundtrack, took the audience on a historical visual ride, from the city’s founding to the present moment, utilizing architectural video mapping techniques and abstract visual storytelling. The projections provided a unique midnight countdown experience to the festive crowds, as well as a scenic backdrop for mayor Menino’s farewell New Year’s parade.
Boston Public Library 2014 video mapping by Zebbler Studios (documentation) from Zebbler Studios on Vimeo.
Also from Zebbler Studios: “The video shown below is the full 10 minute headliner mapping presentation which was aligned with and projected onto the Copley Square facade of the landmark Boston Public Library building.”
Boston Public Library 2014 video mapping headliner piece by Zebbler Studios (projection content) from Zebbler Studios on Vimeo.
And full list of credits for the exhibit:
Boston Public Library 2014 NYE video mapping project was commissioned by First Night and the City of Boston.
Video mapping project execution by Zebbler Studios team:
• Creative direction and project management by Zebbler
• Concept and storyboard by Zebbler, Devon Bryant and Ktron with assistance of the ZS animation team and the city of Boston
• Animation by Devon Bryant, Tato Herrero, Ofer Zmora, Ian Chris Keller, Philip Gedarovich, Brody Froelich, Tim Mearini and Zebbler
• Music, effects and audio composition by Ben Cantil (Encanti) with additional music by Vanessa Garde, Maeve Gilchrist, and Ricardo Curto.
• Mapping engineer: Devon Bryant
• Production assistants: Andy Buns, Andy Sylvester, Drendan Orion
• 3d template modeling: Ian Chris Keller
• CAD design: Jacob Fenwick and Doug Ruuska
• CNC Library sculptural modeling by Jacob Fenwick
• CNC management assitance: James Arthur
• Additional assistance by Bill Griffith, Joe Stcroix, Mat Welch
Projector rental and installation: Zasco Productions, LLC
Initial concept: Priscilla
Initial concept advancement: Romanelli Media and Mihai Dinulescu
First Night liaison: Carrie Gesteland
First Night production manager: Peter Garland