Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Shadow Canopy
Here is my documentation for the final assignment, to build an intervention/installation that reflected the already existing light quality in that space. Cross-posted in my blog (linked b/c there are larger pictures there.)
My site was a pathway located between two parking lots: the blue lot behind the Space Research Building, and the connecting orange lot. The path is rough concrete and it weaves through the woods. On a bright, sunny day, the light passes through the foliage in a specked pattern on the path- or in the winter, the sun casts long shadows from the bare branches. At night, a row of lamps arranged along the path lights the way. I chose this as a potential site because it’s an often used path, but removed from any sculptural works found in the more central and populated region of campus.
There is already a specific light quality in the space, which I could choose to emphasize or draw attention to. I suspect the light is almost never appreciated, however, because the path is most often used by people arriving for work in the morning or leaving work at day’s end.
Placing a canopy above the path catches the shadows of the trees and branches, creating a “shadow screen” overhead. My hope was for the installation to draw attention to these shadows, which otherwise generally go unnoticed.
In addition to creating a shadow-screen, I wanted to both convey and toy with the quality of light as it shines through and between leaves in a natural forest canopy. To achieve this, I laser cut a series of acrylic leaves, wove them into a thin net, and suspended them a few inches above the cloth. Light passing through these leaves created familiar and yet surreal shadows spaced among the natural branch shadows. Additionally, the canopy was supported by a branch-like metal structure sewed into the fabric, which then in turn was fastened to four surrounding tree trunks. In this way, the structure was a continuation of the trees reaching out over the path.
Below are stitched photographs showing the canopy-as-shadow-screen. Enjoy!
My site was a pathway located between two parking lots: the blue lot behind the Space Research Building, and the connecting orange lot. The path is rough concrete and it weaves through the woods. On a bright, sunny day, the light passes through the foliage in a specked pattern on the path- or in the winter, the sun casts long shadows from the bare branches. At night, a row of lamps arranged along the path lights the way. I chose this as a potential site because it’s an often used path, but removed from any sculptural works found in the more central and populated region of campus.
There is already a specific light quality in the space, which I could choose to emphasize or draw attention to. I suspect the light is almost never appreciated, however, because the path is most often used by people arriving for work in the morning or leaving work at day’s end.
Placing a canopy above the path catches the shadows of the trees and branches, creating a “shadow screen” overhead. My hope was for the installation to draw attention to these shadows, which otherwise generally go unnoticed.
In addition to creating a shadow-screen, I wanted to both convey and toy with the quality of light as it shines through and between leaves in a natural forest canopy. To achieve this, I laser cut a series of acrylic leaves, wove them into a thin net, and suspended them a few inches above the cloth. Light passing through these leaves created familiar and yet surreal shadows spaced among the natural branch shadows. Additionally, the canopy was supported by a branch-like metal structure sewed into the fabric, which then in turn was fastened to four surrounding tree trunks. In this way, the structure was a continuation of the trees reaching out over the path.
Below are stitched photographs showing the canopy-as-shadow-screen. Enjoy!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Latest
My camera is temporarily out of commission; I'll pick up some batteries in the morning and post my latest photos. A lot is in the oven right now, but I've completed two studies and learned a good deal about what I want to produce this weekend.
Following this post should be an image I created to illustrate my latest idea. I was experimenting with materials, trying to get a sense of how light would pass through the acrylic and how to cast shadows of text and adjust images to nonparallel surfaces, when I inadvertently created something I found interesting. I want to make it a part of the work, and I feel it relates well to the issues I've been pursuing.
I'm currently calculating angles for my next sunrise experiment and working on planning out my next construction. Once these things are ironed out, I'll have more to post. Be expecting another post tomorrow, once the camera has new batteries, and another to follow either in the evening or Saturday morning once the next model is being constructed.
Cheers
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