Franchise Freedom in Central Park was the biggest public art installation since Christo’s The Gates. The performance was the result of five years close collaboration between DRIFT, Drone Stories, the New York City Mayor’s Office and Therme US.
Scaled from the piece’s original 300 drones to 1,000, Franchise Freedom is a poetic blend of art and technology. Based on complex algorithmic patterns developed from more than ten years of research into starlings’ flight behavior, the site-specific artwork mimics the birds’ murmurations, creating the illusion of a flock of birds floating above the night sky in unison, and reacting to the space around them. With this work, we hope to unite audiences through experiences that bring people, space and nature together.
Credits
Produced by Drone Stories
In collaboration with Fishko
In partnership with Therme Group
Drones by Nova Sky Stories
Selected Press
New York Times: Flight of the Drones Lights Up Central Park
The Washington Times: Flock of 1000 drones light up the night in New York’s Central Park
Designboom: central park was shrouded in a flock of 1,000 luminous drones by DRIFT
WWD: Why There Were 1,000 Purple-lit Drones Buzzing Above Central Park
Whitewall: DRIFT Presents Franchise Freedom in New York and Worldwide
ABC News: Drone display over Central Park lights up night sky
CNN: Watch 1,000 drones fly over Central Park in stunning aerial art performance
