NOVA FLIES FIRST EVER DRONE SHOW IN CENTRAL PARK WITH STUDIO DRIFT FLYING SCULPTURE “FRANCHISE FREEDOM”
Central Park | New York City | October 2023
Nova Sky Stories Quick Facts:
- Event: Franchise Freedom in Central Park
- Location: New York City
- # of drones: 1000
- Artist: Studio DRIFT
- Production: Drone Stories
"It began with a sudden, breathtaking emergence over the trees to the south — a thousand points of blue light that expanded and dispersed into the sky."
"In a first-of-its-kind performance at Central Park, artists from "Studio Drift" lit up the night sky with 1,000 choreographed drones."
"The movement of the drones may appear random, but it is highly calculated and controlled."
Nova drones lifted into the night above Central Park for a rare New York City performance of “Franchise Freedom.” With intricate formations that shifted from butterflies to dynamic grids, the piece revealed a precise interplay between nature and technology and set a new standard for large-scale aerial art.
Roberta Smith of the New York Times called the work “serenely beautiful, like an enormous lava lamp made with points of light.”
Five years in development, this presentation continued the project’s evolution from its Art Basel debut and reinforced its impact on public art powered by drone technology.