Client: Scottsdale Public Art

Location: Scottsdale, AZ, United States

Completion date: 2015

Artwork budget: $35,000

Project Team

Industry Resource

Jeff Morris

Morris Music

Public Art Agent

Scottsdale Public Art

Scottsdale Public Art

Overview

Gemtones is a series of polygonal shapes with designs that are water jet cut out of aluminum sheet that resemble gems. The shapes are internally lit with computer controlled color changing LED lights that are attached by cable and suspended between the Scottsdale Performing Arts Center and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. The shapes change colors throughout the night creating a myriad of projected, patterned colors.
There are also sound elements that are triggered by passersby.

Goals

The Scottsdale Cultural Council commissioned this sculptural light installation to create and transform a poorly lit space into a dynamic and colorful environment for this passageway between the two city buildings which has always been a busy thoroughfare for people during the daytime and at night for special events. One of the challenges was installation, we were not able to attach to the museum building, so 1/8" aircraft cables were suspended 80' long to a concrete wall on the back of the museum in order to float the shapes at a 16' height. I worked with the city engineers on attachment plates and locations on the buildings to ensure the safety of the installation.

Process

I wanted to create an interactive experience for people so I collaborated with a sound artist so that when people entered the space, they would trigger video cameras that would in turn trigger specific sounds depending on speed, mass and direction creating a multi sensory experience.