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'Open Air' Light Show Extravaganza Begins Tonight

By Tim Jimenez

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The switch will be flipped tonight on the Ben Franklin Parkway. It's the first night of "Open Air" -- an interactive light show that will be hard to miss.

Open Air comes to Philadelphia thanks to Montreal-based artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer.

"Basically what you will see is a canopy of light, like a roof of light, over all the Parkway."

Delivered by 24 robotic spotlights, visible from 10 miles away on clear nights. And those lights will constantly change depending on you.

"You can literally transform your city from your phone."

If you download the Open Air iPhone app you can leave a voice message, it will be put in a queue and the system turns your message into lights.

"Graphical equalizer in a hi-fi, you know those little frequency bands that go up and down with your voice. it's similar to that except it's ten miles high."

You can also send the message on www.openairphilly.net. The light show runs from 8pm to 11pm each night until October 14.

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