Music & Art

Artist Tom Milnes rewilds Plymouth Hoe in: ‘Ashnihilation’

Augmented reality project at the Hoe and Smeaton’s Tower raises awareness of ash dieback in the South West

The city of Plymouth’s iconic Hoe and landmark Smeaton’s Tower is the focus of a new cutting edge augmented reality experience created by artist Tom Milnes, as part of a wider project commissioned by Plymouth City Council through Plymouth’s Green Minds (funded by the ERDF/Urban Innovation Actions) and created in conjunction with Arts University Plymouth and with support from Devon Wildlife Trust. Tom Milnes’ innovative interactive artwork, which is called ‘Ashnihilation’, is designed to raise awareness of the eff ect of ash dieback, a chronic fungal disease aff ecting ash trees in Europe. ‘Ashnihilation’ utilises Microsoft HoloLens augmented reality headsets that allow participants to watch 3D animated creatures populating the Hoe and Smeaton’s Tower, in a guided visual experience which enables them to learn about local biodiversity and the importance of ash trees within our local landscape. Creator Tom Milnes lectures in BA (Hons) Fine Art at Arts University Plymouth. Tom said: ‘The overall aim of Green Minds is to put nature at the heart of our decision making and the goal for this particular project is to bring the issue of ash for this particular project is to bring the issue of ash dieback to the attention of local people in a fun and dieback to the attention of local people in a fun and imaginative way. I wasn’t aware of the problem of ash imaginative way. I wasn’t aware of the problem of ash dieback until I spoke to Devon Wildlife Trust and dieback until I spoke to Devon Wildlife Trust and Green Minds. A variety of fl ora and fauna rely Green Minds. A variety of fl ora and fauna rely upon the ash tree for food and shelter, which upon the ash tree for food and shelter, which means that its loss would have serious means that its loss would have serious consequences for wildlife in the area. consequences for wildlife in the area. ‘To make the project relevant to the city, ‘To make the project relevant to the city, I wanted to bring Plymouth history and I wanted to bring Plymouth history and culture into the project, so I created the culture into the project, so I created the animated species in the Augmented animated species in the Augmented Reality artwork by using 3D scanning Reality artwork by using 3D scanning of local buildings, monuments and key of local buildings, monuments and key features of the landscape.’ The state-of-the-art Microsoft HoloLens augmented reality headsets, HoloLens augmented reality headsets, used for the ‘Ashnihilation’ creative used for the ‘Ashnihilation’ creative

“The overall aim of Green Minds is to put nature at the heart of our decision making ”

commission, were funded by Green Minds as part of Arts University Plymouth’s participation in the Green Minds project. HoloLens is part of a growing suite of digital tools and resources available to staff and students at Arts University Plymouth as part of the university’s commitment to exploring innovative technologies in the context of culture.

Further information:

Visit www.tommilnes.com/ashnihilation and www. greenmindsplymouth.com

Levinsky Hall

A new classical music venue bringing worldclass musicians to the South West

Levinsky Hall, as part of the University of Plymouth, is pleased to announce its inaugural season in a new classical music venue for the South West of England. Levinsky Hall, a showcase venue in the ground fl oor atrium of the Roland Levinsky Building, will present the Musica Viva Concert Series which brings internationally acclaimed performers to the Plymouth community to inspire, educate, challenge, and unite audiences by presenting leading musicians in public concert performances, open rehearsals, and informal talks. With a wonderful Steinway Model C grand piano now in Levinsky Hall along with new on-stage acoustic panels, the two Autumn concerts - Romantic Piano and Virtuoso Violin - kick off an exciting season that highlights both compositional and instrumental virtuosity in works ranging from the Romantic era to the present day that are fresh and daring in their expressive qualities. Dr Robert Taub, Director of Music, The Arts Institute said: ‘I’m very excited about our upcoming concerts in the beautiful Levinsky Hall. It’s a very comfortable place to enjoy concerts, and its ample stage area allows us to bring in internationally acclaimed ensembles as well as soloists and chamber music. ‘One of the perspectives of our Musica Viva concerts is to play old music as if it is new, and new music as if it is old. In other words, play old music with the same excitement and freshness as new music with ink barely dry on the pages, and new music with the same deep convictions that we bring to music that has already withstood the tests of time. ‘Colleagues suggested that I play the opening concert in Levinsky Hall in October, and I’m particularly pleased and honoured to do so with a programme of exciting works that use the piano to its utmost. And for the November concert, we’re all thrilled to be bringing in the brilliant young London-born virtuoso violinist Mathilde Milwidsky.’

Concert Listings:

Saturday, October 15 Pre-concert talk: 7pm Performance: 7:30pm Robert Taub, piano Beethoven: Sonata in C minor, Op.13 Pathétique Schumann: Davidsbündlertänze, Op.6 Chopin: Sonata in B minor, Op.58 Romantic Piano

Saturday, November 12 Pre-concert talk: 7pm Performance: 7:30pm Mathilde Milwidsky, violin Huw Watkins, piano Bartok - Rhapsody for violin and piano No.2 Huw Watkins – Arietta for violin and piano Romance for violin and piano Paganini - Caprice No. 24 for solo violin Huw Watkins - Partita for solo violin - Interval - Walton - Sonata for violin and piano Ravel - Tzigane for violin and piano Virtuoso Violin