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!

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

Window, Mirror, Screen: An Installation

I finally worked out all the kinks with my installation piece for Borrowing Light. From broken fluorescent bulbs and getting the right projector to locked doors with alarms and blown out circuits, it was a bit frustrating. But I got there in the end. When I started documenting the piece, I fell in love with individual pictures. So here are two parts of the installation in images and a video of the third part.

My goal was to use a bank of windows as a window, a mirror, and a screen.

This section of the windows is acting as a window. At night you see your own reflection in the window because it's light inside and dark outside. To reverse this, I added light outside so that the wall becomes the focal point of the window scene.

Outside, the window does the opposite, acting as a mirror and shielding the view of the interior. From this angle, the whole panel looks black.

If you get a bit closer to the window, you can make out what is going on both inside and outside--the bricks from outside sit on top of the interior image.

On one section of the windows I used a rear projection (projected from outside onto the back of the glass) to turn the windows into a screen from inside. Note: There is something wrong with the video, I can't get it to load.

In this section of the installation I enhanced the reflective quality of the windows by adding more light. Normally the windows are already reflective indoors, but they are even more effective with the added lights.

From outside there is a very clear view of the interior.

Sun's Path June to December

Precedents for Installation

I can't embed this video, but it's is a time lapse of a building's exterior throughout the day and night as the reflections change.

And this is a video of fireworks reflecting on a building.


Time lapse of buildings.

Precedents for Installation

1 Minute: LAX Night Window, Reflection, Sniff from michaeljohnmuller on Vimeo.

Indoor reflections interacting with an exterior environment.

Video Document of 'within' (A Public Art Installation. Toronto Canada, 2009) from jol thomson on Vimeo.

Rear projected video on building.

TonhalleLATE from Projektil on Vimeo.

"Virtual Windows"

Windows from Dana Kash on Vimeo.

Rear projections through building windows.

Amy Yoes' "Street-level" Night View from Art in General on Vimeo.