Client: Living Computer Museum - Paul Allen Collection

Location: Seattle, WA, United States

Completion date: 2016

Artwork budget: $15,000

Project Team

Artist

Julie Conway

Illuminata Art Glass Design

Client

Living Computers Museum | Paul Allen

Living Computer Museum

Overview

“Memento” 2016©
Custom commissioned blown glass chandelier designed & created by Illuminata Art Glass Design for the Living Computer Museum in Seattle new renovations and launch. A 500 lb. installation of 11 over-sized blown glass globes suspended from steel with computer memory cards built inside as light diffusers.

Goals

Julie visited the LCM and asked to see some of the archival elements in the basement, and instantly was inspired by the details of computer memory cards and the opportunity to incorporate the components of the museum’s collection into the piece.

Process

Julie met the museum’s director, Lath Carlson & assistant Rob Schmuck randomly and creative ideas sparked immediately! Lath, whom also has an affinity for glass and a history of hosting the Glass Art Society at the Tech Museum in San Jose, CA gravitated to my work and asked Julie to submit a proposal.

Additional Information

I loved how this project included my best skills as a glassmaker integrated with the highly technical and specialized components of computers. I learned that the computer memory cards are hand woven copper textiles with hand-soldered silver. They look like giant sequins from an Indian sari or something unexpected from a computer.