Sun Boxes is a solar-powered sound installation originally created by Craig Colorusso. Twenty independent, solar-powered speakers each continuously play a recording of a single guitar note fading in and then decaying. Because the loops are a different length, once the piece begins they continually overlap and the piece slowly evolves over time.
The volume of each speaker is controlled by how much sunlight it is getting, so various environmental factors – clouds, sunset, and even listeners' shadows – can effect how the piece sounds.
The app version of Sun Boxes aims to give users an experience similar to that of visiting the installation, however there are key differences. The app does not respond to sunlight, so you are free to enjoy it anywhere, anytime. There are three main activities you can do with this app:
STREAM. The Stream page taps into the same continuous cycle of the Sun Boxes sounds that can be found on the website. At the start of each cycle, the notes all begin at exactly the same time. Since they differ in length, they are constantly overlapping each other in new ways. It takes roughly three months for the notes to all line up again, which is when a new cycle begins.
INTERACT. The Interact page allows you to turn on and off individual sounds by selecting boxes. Create your own combinations!
COLLABORATE. With Collaborate, you can turn your device and the devices of the people near you into your own impromptu Sun Boxes installation. This section will only be available if you have a network connection. To find out more about Collaborations, visit the Collaboration info page.