Client: Private residential
Location: Aspen, CO, United States
Completion date: 2018
Artwork budget: $8,000
Project Team
Fabricator
Stromberg Metal Works
Stromberg Metal Works, Beltsville, MD
Industry Resource
Daniel Restrepo
FlexFireLEDs
Overview
Chinese character for WATER is Shui, 5’H X 3’W X 1’D, bronze sheets with low voltage LED lighting between the sheets of bronze.
Goals
International author Lisa See and LA attorney Richard Kendall commissioned me to make a sculpture for their residential garden in Aspen, CO.
Process
Lisa writes novels about China and is part Chinese. We worked on several ideas together. After making several 24" bronze models, we chose the beautiful Chinese character for WATER as a 60"Hx27"W sculpture. It is beautiful from all sides but will only read in Chinese as from one side. Then we worked together with her contractor to install WATER/Shui outside the kitchen window not far from an electric plug. The sculpture is outside the rooms where they spends most of their time winter and summer.
Additional Information
With the new LED lighting their 6yr old grandson can change the colors inside the sculpture from inside the house with a remote control. This piece works for all generations and reminds them of their Chinese heritage right outside their kitchen window.