Freedom Plaza New York, NY
Contact: info@pathoflibertynyc.com
Web: virtualperfectioncowboy.com
Players: Virtual Perfection Cowboy (Dash Lunde); Path of Liberty
Nestled next to the East River and the United Nations Building, a small patch of green hides behind a fence—if you’re not looking, you might miss it. Those who enter the gate come upon the labyrinthine route and breathtaking photography of the "Path of Liberty: That Which Unites Us." Massive screens project portraits of people from all walks of life, supplemented by audio interviews about what it means to be an American. As visitors amble among the displays, they’re treated to a rich, enveloping soundscape created entirely by N.Y.C.’s Virtual Perfection Cowboy.
Developed by Dash Lunde, Virtual Perfection Cowboy builds lush audio environments by layering sounds. Lunde focuses on storytelling, perfectly complementing "Path of Liberty’s" goals. As visitors approach the center, with 360° displays, they move from held harmonies to a seven-minute track, synced with a flowing presentation of breathtaking landscapes. The track features four distinct parts, tied together with the heartbeat of a bass drum. Layers of ambient sound swell from the earth, both ethereal and grounded, like a forest fantasy. Buzzing strings join, splashing like water over rocks in a babbling brook, supported by the ebb and flow of held chords. Visuals of expansive plains, jagged rocks, and frothing oceans drift by on the screens, fully immersing you in the experience. Glistening keys rise to meet the beating bass drum. Suddenly, an electric guitar cuts in, jostling you out of the reverie. The screens flip one-by-one in time with the guitar riff, showing cities, monuments, and harbors with each note. It all fades behind the drums to welcome part three, where swelling strings and bright horns bring wistful hope. It’s a new day, a re-birth, and a chance to see the nation as one. The melody in the horns shifts slowly, creating and releasing tension like rays peeking through clouds.
As the fourth section begins, the track circles back to the original themes. A wooden flute melody and held bass tones conjure a picture of an ancient world, rich in feeling. It lilts by, ringing clear with emotion and hope, before fading out to the beating drum one last time.
If you expect to be in New York City this summer, make sure to set aside some time to visit "Path of Liberty: That Which Unites Us." Not only will you be treated to the beauty of Virtual Perfection Cowboy, but also Americans sharing their stories.
