World-first Cymatics Cathedral Installation

When Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, in Portland, Oregon, decided to sponsor an art installation they chose a collaborative design by artist, Shelley Socolofsky and John Stuart Reid of CymaScope. The theme set by the cathedral was that the piece should connect light and dark and be a "new and experimental art form and media that cannot be hung on walls nor placed on pedestals.

A design titled ''Cauldron", featuring a six foot diameter circular pond of white color-dyed water, onto which a video projector would fire CymaScope imagery relevant to the cathedral. It was decided to make visible the beautiful Pilgrim's Hymn, sung by the cathedral's choir, and for a finale, to make visible part of JS Bach's Toccata and Fugue. Socolofsky designed a warm color pallet for the imagery and asked for the piece to begin with the sound of flowing water made visible, followed by the sound of the Trinity Bell made visible. The bell sound was recorded at St Paul's Episcopal Church in Salem, Oregon- struck by their music director Paul Klemme.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_e-vhGbqFQ

After the installation opened to the public Shelley Socolofsky commented, ''The Cauldron installation was a huge success and the crowd was mesmerized and fascinated by the cymatic imagery reflected off water. People came to see it in their droves.'' Nathan LaDuc, Acting Dean of the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, said, ''Cauldron [which ran May 15th to May 31st 2015] allowed us to see our beloved cathedral in new ways with sound, color, light and water a centerpiece of our arts festival giving a fresh yet ancient perspective on the meaning of sacred space. It was an amazing installation; I'm still hearing people talk about it!