Opening this weekend: Sean Desiree’s BEAM ENSEMBLE

Posted on Wednesday, July 20th, 2022

Image: Sean Desiree, BEAM ENSEMBLE, 2022.

Sean Desiree’s BEAM ENSEMBLE on view July 22 – August 28 at Basilica Hudson in Hudson, New York 

Sean Desiree, More Art’s 2021 EA Resident, will be presenting a new iteration of their public artwork BEAM ENSEMBLE on Friday, July 22nd at Basilica Hudson as part of Upstate Art Weekend!

BEAM ENSEMBLE is a public art project by Sean Desiree that combines their understanding of timber frame construction and music production. The installation is an outdoor orchestra that creates a space intended for the public to establish a connection with the buried history of African American composers. The architecture of the piece resembles that of an orchestra with four distinct sections, each representing a different instrument originating from the African diaspora—wood blocks, an amadinda, percussion, a harp. The intention of BEAM ENSEMBLE is to give orchestral music back to the people by providing a resource for composition.

The installation will be on view beginning Friday, July 22nd through Sunday, August 28th at Basilica Hudson in Hudson, New York

Click here to read more about this project! Both iterations of BEAM ENSEMBLE were commissioned by More Art: the first, in Crotona Park, Bronx, was commissioned through our 2021 Engaging Artists Residency Program, and the 2022 iteration is commissioned by More Art via the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.