Client: University of Massachusetts Amherst

Overview

The Photoluminescent Labyrinth was an art installation that combined material exploration with the healing properties of labyrinth walking practices. The labyrinth used photoluminescent materials (commonly knownd as glow-in-the dark) and dichroic film to create small dots of colorful light during the day and soft glow at night outlining the labyrinth path. The labyrinth, 40 feet in diameter, was temporarily installed on the UMass Amherst campus to create a colorful and engaging place for meditation.

Goals

The Photoluminescent Labyrinth was a collaborative project with the College of Nursing at UMass Amherst. The project sought to provide a place for students, faculty and staff to engage in labyrinth walking, while activating an empty lawn space on a college campus.

Process

The collaboration involved understanding of labyrinth practices, while using the art installation to test the incorporation of smart materials (photoluminescent materials) in an artistic manner to demonstrate their capacity for engaging the public, while demonstrating the environmental benefits of producing light without electricity.