'Mythbusters' Host Teams Up with Baltimore Students for White House Project
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A Baltimore-made piece of art is heading to DC. It will be the centerpiece for the first-ever "South by South Lawn" Festival at the White House.
The festival was inspired by the popular South by Southwest music and film festival in Austin, Texas.
It took several weeks, and 50 creative minds to build the interactive centerpiece that will be on display at the White House lawn. Now, they're adding the final touches inside the Digital Harbor Foundation.
"So much hard work and everyone getting their hands dirty and it's exciting to see it all come together and be lit up like the Hollywood sign at the White House," said Jennifer Schachter, artist & co-creator.
Co-host of "Mythbusters" Adam Savage has also joined in on the project. Savage, along with Schachter, collaborated with the Digital Harbor Foundation's Shawn Grimes and his students to create the 7-foot light installation that will read "S X S L" for "South by (x) South Lawn."
"It's been very much like a freight train to get there, but here we are, one day ahead, and these 50 kids are putting the letters together," said Savage.
"I love the fact that I'm getting their help, that's the best," he said.
The interactive sign will serve as the South by South Lawn centerpiece at the White House. The festival aims to celebrate the spirit of innovation and creative thinkers.
"I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what people do with it, how they react to it, and being able to say I was a part of it," said 9-year-old Sophia Clark.
The Digital Harbor Foundation provides a creative space for Charm City's youth.
"The more kids we get to exposed to it, and the more access we provide to them, the more innovative solutions they are going to come up with for problems in the future," said Shawn Grimes, Digital Harbor Foundation.
The S-X-S-L sign is one of their largest projects to date.
"This is the engine of all that humans have achieved, is people reaching out and getting their hands dirty, and making something themselves, so that's the most important skill we can teach them," said Savage.
The final part of the installation will happen on Monday when they take it over to the White House.
During the festival, people from around the world will be able to interact with the light installation via social media.
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