Client: Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind

Overview

For the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind in Colorado Springs artist Matthew Geller designed As Rose as Rain, a hybrid of a park bench, a porch swing, a gazebo, and a playground spring rider. In Geller’s words, “With my public artwork, I set out to engage the public and foster a sense of community. The works are spirited, accessible, and very often unexpected. By using industrial materials and disparate elements in functional and playful ways, my artwork aims to encourage engagement with the site, the work, and among the public themselves.” For this unique site Geller created a work of outdoor art that engages multiple senses combining strong visual elements with user participation and movement.

Goals

The circular bench seats up to a dozen people at a time and is supported by four large compression springs which allow the interactive work of art to rock and sway based on the movement of those seated on the bench. This movement can also vary based on how many people are seated on the bench and how their weight is distributed. This artwork serves as a community gathering place on the campus for students and faculty to come together. The sloped canopy features nine brightly colored, translucent polycarbonate panels that move with the bench, projecting color onto the ground that mimics the movement of the bench. The canopy also serves as a passive water feature, collecting rainwater that drains through a hole into a circular gravel-filled drain.