Science World/Telus World of Science, B.C., Vancouver, BC, Canada (Captured on December 24, 1998).

 

Science World B.C., Vancouver. The dome was part of Expo '86 site. Now, the old expo site is being developed as a residential area. However, the geodesic dome has become the home of Science World B.C.

 

(The directional sound effect is done using soundsaVR from Squamish Media Group.)

 

About the sound you are hearing. It is coming from a display just outside Science World's front door. The following text came from the information posted on the display.

 

The Tower of Bauble

 

The giant kinetic sculpture was created by New York artist George Rhoads. The Tower of Bauble was originally built in 1985 for the North Hills Shopping Centre in Kamloops. It was generously donated to SCIENCE WORLD in 1995 by Robert H. Lee, Jack Poole, and Robert J. MacDonald.

 

The artist worked in conjunction with fabricators to build The Tower of Bauble. Rhoads describes his work as audio-kinetic sculptures that generate sounds as they move. Look--and listen!--for the trampoline, loop the loop, wok, wooden drums, helixes, cymbals, xylophone, spirals, fireball, and gongs. Stay awhile and watch the progress of the bowling ball.

 

Rhoads' sculptures can also be found in the Boston Museum of Science, as well as the Airport, the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City, and the West Edmonton Mall. Some are more complicated than others, but they all share certain features. Look for the ball distributor that feeds the initial supply of balls onto several tracks. The Tower of Bauble is actually divided into two sections (top and bottom), each with its own balls and paths. With a number of different paths from top to bottom and several balls moving all at once, the sculpture is always changing. When the balls reach the bottom, a motorized chain hoist carries these back to the top. This is the only point in which external power is used; all the other action relies on gravity.

 

The Tower of Bauble is just one of many fascinating SCIENCE WORLD displays exploring scientific phenomena. Come inside and discover our world of hands-on exhibits, dazzling demonstrations and breathtaking OMNIMAX® features.