Festival Henge

Black frames with lit pixels of light stand in a circle on an open floor with their light reflecting in blues and green on the floor.

Festival Henge Friday Jam Sessions

National Disability Employment Awareness Month: MIT Disability ERG Events – 10/3, 10/10, 10/17

A project by Gearóid Dolan aka screaMachine

Media Lab Lobby • E14 • August 20 – October 17

Festival Henge is a community participation art project that involves, absorbs and reflects the community of artists at and associated with MIT

It is a dynamic installation composed of eight freestanding, translucent hand-made LED video panels arranged in an octagonal formation. Each low-resolution video screen displays imagery visible from both sides, while also allowing the surrounding environment to be visible between the LED pixels, inviting viewers into a 360° audiovisual environment with sixteen-channel surround sound. More info on the web page: Details

The Loop

lit up frames are visible through the windows of a building at night. Text at the top reads: Festival Henge at M I T Media Lab August 20 to October 17 2025. Text logo at the bottom reads screamachine
Black frames with lit pixels of light stand in a circle on an open floor with their light reflecting in pinks and purples on the floor.
Black frames with lit pixels of light stand in a circle on an open floor with their light reflecting in blues, greens and purples on the floor.

The installation runs silent 24/7, playing a video loop of content that evolves over time, as community members submit new video content that gets added to the loop.

Add your content, join the Loop!

If you want to submit video content, details are on this web page: Call For Artists. No need to be an expert, I can edit and fit your content to the LED Frames (as I have done for many of the artists already on the Loop).

The Jam Sessions • Fridays in October

Black frames with lit pixels of light stand in a circle on an open floor with their light reflecting in black and white on the floor. A lone figure wearing black dances in the center with a DJ visible in the background. A number of faces can be seen depicted in lights on the frames.
Black frames with lit pixels of light stand in a circle on an open floor with their light reflecting in pinks and purples on the floor are visible over the shoulder of a DJ playing from decks and a laptop.
Black frames with lit pixels of light stand in a circle on an open floor with their light reflecting in pinks and purples on the floor. A group of people are dancing amongst them.

Every Friday after sundown I hold “Friday Night Jam Sessions”, 7:30pm to 11pm, when the Festival Henge is activated by community sound artists, DJs and audio visual artist performances. It is a fun participatory environment where artists and community members gather and celebrate community in a festive and welcoming space. Come join us, experience the art, hang out, play the participatory synthesizer, dance with us to beats in celebration of each other.

a man with a beard playing with 6 large metal knobs on a white triangular form with the words big knob 303 and screamachine on it
Poster with a picture of a white triangular form, with 6 large knobs on it, and with the words big knob 303 and screamachine on it. Title reads Big knob 303 participatory synthesizer and a logo with the word screamachine is below
two women playing with 6 large metal knobs on a white triangular form with the words big knob 303 and screamachine on it

I built the “Big Knob 303” synthesizer for people who don’t have music skills or knowledge, to participate: it is very popular and a lot of fun. My computer plays the notes and accompanying drums and you play the 6 large knobs that effect the quality and timbre of the sounds. Created so people with low vision or who are blind can participate with minimal instructions, and for all to try and to enjoy.

Black frames with lit pixels of light stand in a circle on an open floor with their light reflecting in blues, greens and purples on the floor.
Black frames with lit pixels of light stand in a circle on an open floor with their light reflecting in blues, greens and yellow on the floor.
Black frames with lit pixels of light stand in a circle on an open floor with their light reflecting in black and white on the floor.

During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we will be jamming on 10/3, 10/10 and 10/17 which will also be the closing event of the project and coincides with the 99 Fridays dance party on the 6th Floor. Come to Building E14 Lobby and join us!

Black frames with lit pixels of light stand in a circle on an open floor with their light reflecting in red and purples on the floor. A vague dancing figure can be seen depicted in lights on the frames.
Black frames with lit pixels of light stand in a circle on an open floor with their light reflecting in reds and yellows on the floor. A number of faces can be seen depicted in lights on the frames.
Black frames with lit pixels of light stand in a circle on an open floor with their light reflecting in black and white on the floor. A number of faces can be seen depicted in lights on the frames.

If you are interested in joining the Jam Sessions as a video or audio artist, details are on this web page: Call For Artists

This work is made possible by Arts At MIT, Artfinity Arts Festival, The Art Culture & Technology Program & Media Lab