Playing The Building

David Byrne, founder of one of the greatest bands ever, an accomplished composer and host of the now defunct Sessions At West 54th TV show, unveiled an art installation called Playing the Building last month in the Maritime Building at the southern tip of Manhattan. Byrne literally turned a portion of the old building into a massive musical instrument, all programmed from a small organ placed in the middle of an abandoned room.









I'll let Pitchfork.TV do the talking in their exclusive video/interview on the installation, but over the weekend I had the opportunity to check out the exhibit and it's well worth a visit. It's also a great opportunity to see the inside of the beautiful Beaux-Arts Maritime Building, a landmark structure built in 1909 situated right next to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. Playing the Building is open Friday - Sunday from 12PM-6PM until August 10. Admission is free.