Hyattsville Horns
HYATTSVILLE HORNS
2004, Hyattsville Justice Center
Hyattsville, MD
“Hyattsville Horns” is an interactive performance sculpture that creates a “sonic portrait” of Prince George’s County. It is composed of 5 colorful, 9-foot tall horn-instrument forms spaced so people can walk among them. A map of the Prince George’s County is embedded in the instruments. There are a series of “hand plates” that, when touched illuminate and the instruments play a group of environmental, historical and melodic sounds significant to Prince George’s County. A riddle is engraved on a stainless steel plaque at the center of the sculpture. When the riddle is deciphered and “hand plates” are touched in the correct pattern, the instruments play a saxophone “short” in reply. The sculpture is lit from dusk to dawn.
This piece was commissioned by Prince George’s County Art in Public Places Program and is the result of a competition won by Christopher Janney in 2002.