Nebulous

Posted on October 2, 2015 by dan

“Brazil” building, Amazon Campus, Seattle WA

Glass, transparent conducting film, aluminum, photovoltaics, LEDs and electronics

Seattle is known for its inclement weather and computer innovation. The climate is changing, both environmentally and technologically. We are currently shifting from our analog hard copy world and local computer storage to “cloud-based” systems. The intricacy of these systems eludes most software users and yet clouds of radio waves constantly transport masses of information all around us. The two large pixelated cloud forms above us, inspired by this evolution in technology, float over the Amazon courtyard with two solar lighting shadows imbedded in the pavement below. Neither fully transparent nor fully opaque, these “low res” clouds have select glass discs that shift between levels of opacity in a digital dance resembling old school calculating computers or perhaps pulsing lightning within clouds on a stormy night.

A variety of glass and switch-glass panels designed by parametric modeling form the skin of the cloud-inspired sculptures

Special thanks to all of our great project partners:

Vulcan Real Estate Commissioning Agency, property owners
Metalistics Fabrication/installation
NBBJ Architects, parametric modeling (Andrew D. Heumann)
Turner Construction General Contractor
Craig Nelson Electrical Engineer
D&K Electric Electrical Installer
American Switchglass Switchglass fabrication
Peter David Studio glass supplier
Jeff Thon circuit board design/fabrication
Paul Strong programming
Solaright PV LED supplier

Nepenthes Paisleyi

Posted on July 14, 2014 by dan

Edmonton, Alberta Canada

17'h x 4' x5.6'w. Fiberglass, steel, LED's Sensors, GFRC

17’h x 4′ x5.6’w. painted fiberglass, steel, LED’s, sensors, GFRC

The name of the pieces are “Nepenthes.” The name is derived from a Greek magical potion that would cause the drinker to be relieved from or induce forgetfulness of pain, grief, or sorrow. I hope these sculptures might provide a brief respite from a hectic daily life, transporting us briefly somewhere else. Paisleyi is the botanic latin version of Paisley, named after the founder of the Edmonton Fringe Festival- and name of the community wherein the sculptures are located.

Nepenthes is also the name of a family of carnivorous plants. Beautiful, quirky, unusual, weird. The fascinating tropical pitcher plants, or “monkey cups,” collect water in their leaf vases. The plant water has an enzyme in it that helps dissolve insects (and sometimes small animals) that find their way into the cups, providing fertilizer for the plants that normally live in infertile locations. The shapes of the sculptures are inspired by the shape of a variety of Nepenthes and celebrates the wonderful diversity of Paisley’s colourful neighborhood.

Monochromatic by daytime, this family of sculptures take on a completely different character at night with the addition of dynamic LED programming.

There are a number of randomly occurring lighting programs that provide very slow changes throughout the evening. It is designed so that people driving by will not see the changes in patterns, yet if they drive by 10 minutes later they will see a different aspect to the project. When people enter the sculpture, integrated sensors pick up the motion and trigger a series of much more animated sequences.

The molds for these sculptures were originally developed for the Nepenthes Davis Street Project for TRIMET/City of Portland, Oregon. The Regional Arts and Culture Council has kindly provided permission for a re-envisioning of the original project for the Brookfield Residential neighborhood of Paisley in Edmonton. You can see the original project here: Nepenthes

Special thanks to all of our great project partners:
Brookfield Residential, Edmonton (funder and site work)
Heavy Industries (fabrication)
PMCS (LED engineering, and programming)