landmarks, groves, illuminations, soundwork

These are approaches to projects undertaken elsewhere that may be explored here...

Landmarks provide an iconic marker of place, drawing the viewer into a dialog with form in space.  These often function as a unique wayfinder or gateway to a neighborhood or district. Monumental or totemic, an effective landmark takes cues from its environs while clearly standing apart as a beautiful anomaly.

Sculptural groves can take many configurations, both figuratively and spatially.  They often walk the fine line between culture and nature while inviting the viewer into an overall esthetic environment through multiplicity of form.

Illuminations are a means to provide evening or night presence and to play with patterning and light on form.  With LEDs, the options for creating light effects have expanded exponentially in the past decade.  Shifting colors, fades and rhythms can establish a particular ambience or mood that reinforces a feeling about a place.

Soundwork adds another approach to the sensory palette.  Aside from smell, sound is perhaps the most immediate esthetic modality.  It offers the chance to soothe, stimulate or irritate the listener with an ambient soundscape that can elicit memories of another time and place. As well, they offer an opportunity to engage in play or with the natural elements (wind, rain, etc).

placemaking

Though a somewhat overused term in the field, placemaking is a genuine goal of this project.   Working with the rubric of public art, landscape architecture, functional amenities and ephemeral programming; we'll explore ways of bringing meaning and beauty through a range of approaches that may include:

• iconic sculpture
• bike racks
• art benches
• drinking fountains
• cisterns & swales
• trees & plantings
• community garden or food forest
• events & programs

setting up websites for projects

For all projects we now set up a corresponding website that can function as a key or map, providing background information about the artwork.  In some cases the website provides details on concept and context, allowing viewers access to greater understanding of the work and its relation to the immediate environs.  In others, the website operates as a sort of cyber-puzzle in dialog with the physically-sited artwork...

www.fallenleaves.org

www.luminousness.net

www.earthgrove.net

prior projects

These are a few of the projects submitted for the RFQ.  They trace out some possible conceptual directions we might explore for Water Flume Trail and Oak Tree Park...

POND

            

 Broken glass mosaic plaza provides centerpiece for Wallingford Steps, a new entry to internationally-renowned Gas Works Park.  Over 400 stainless steel waterjet cutouts based on childrens’ drawings are embedded in mosaic pavers arranged in green-blue/land-water transition signifying the transition from neighborhood terrain to nearby Lake Union. Piece reads alternately as ripples or orbs, a huge drop of water, a microscopic image, a mirror sky with constellations, earth/ocean with flora, fauna & fossils, blending scales within a soundstage. 

 SOUNDINGS

Plaza sculptures play sonic duets with wind, water and field recordings.  LED ‘light river’ tracing the course of the historic Duwamish River runs the length of fret board, providing nighttime main entry landmark.  Forms reference musical instruments, split hazelnuts and divided worlds while providing an iconic curvilinear counterpoint to the expansive gridded plaza and station. 

SPIRIT BOAT

  Illuminated archway, mosaic inserts, glasswork and grating frame the plaza entry and reinforce the concept of our arrival from ‘different worlds’ for a diverse neighborhood population.  Project was part of a neighborhood rehabilitation that transformed a dilapidated property into a safe gathering place for teens. 

 TREE OF LIFE

            

Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market and adjacent Victor Steinbrueck Park provide the setting for the world’s only permanently-sited homeless memorial.  Designed as a partnership with the homeless community and five City departments, this project provides a gathering place within a park noted for its viewpoints and hospitality to all citizens.  The ‘tree’ is a focal point with missing commemorative ‘leaves of remembrance’ scattered on sidewalks throughout the city.  Two websites at www.homelessremembrance.org and www.fallenleaves.org provide additional information about the project and those commemorated.