Public Arts Festival Hopes To Draw New Visitors To The Boston Harbor Islands

05:20

August 06, 2015

One of the art installations on Georges Island. (Zoë Sobel/WBUR)

Artists are bringing the Boston Harbor Islands to life this summer with several interactive public art installations.

The Isles Arts Initiative has transformed Spectacle Island and Georges Island into walking art exhibitions, filled with works inspired by the islands themselves.

WBUR's Lisa Mullins and Zoë Sobel toured the installations on Georges Island with artists Jamie Horgan and Alex DeMaria — who constructed a giant, wind-powered music box. Independent curator Elizabeth Devlin also speaks to Mullins and Sobel about the two years it took to make this project a reality.

More: A Guide To This Summer's Giant Art Festival On Boston Harbor Islands

Here are photos of the installation created by artists Horgan and DeMaria, along with the Civil War-era fort that inspired its design:

This art installation, known as "Melody Mill," is located on Georges Island. Artists Alexander DeMaria and Jamie Horgan, pictured, placed a windmill atop an old powder house to power a giant music box inside that plays at the changing speed of the wind. They had help from Stephen Mooney, Josh Falk, Kenji Nakayama, Caitlin Duennebier, Jason Pierce, Lucas Horgan and Suzy Letourneau. (Courtesy Alexander DeMaria and Jamie Horgan)

The inside of the "Melody Mill," which uses wind power to produce various sounds using an indoor machine attached to an outdoor windmill. (Courtesy Alexander DeMaria and Jamie Horgan)

Civil War-era Fort Warren, located on Georges Island, inspired artists DeMaria and Horgan, who saw potential in the powerhouse where weapons and ammunition used to be stored. (Zoë Sobel/WBUR) — Civil War-era Fort Warren, located on Georges Island, inspired artists DeMaria and Horgan, who saw potential in the powder house where weapons and ammunition used to be stored. (Zoë Sobel/WBUR)

Many of the Isles Arts Initiative exhibits will be on display until the end of the summer, and on Friday, August 7, ferries from Boston to Georges and Spectacle islands are free.

Experiences Visual Arts