A personal project created for the Oak Bay “Arts Alive 2019” temporary public art exhibition, the theme of confluence inspired “Reflect and Connect” to focus on our interconnectedness and how individual perspectives shape our experiences. The textures and images on the orb represent personal viewpoints that cloud, or color, our ability to see the world, represented by a reflective stainless steel orb.
Walking around the orb, this physical “point of confluence”, allows viewers to investigate the centerpoint from different perspectives, inviting interaction and exploration with the various shapes, colors and textures motifs that have been engraved into the acrylic panels.
The wow factor comes when the viewer looks inside the orb, as it transforms the experience to something that feels more like virtual reality and lets the viewer take in all the viewpoints at once.
The human-scaled piece stands six feet tall and the globe is three feet in diameter.
close up view of the stainless steel reflective globe
“Reflect and Connect” really evolved differently from my original design during the building phase simply based on mechanics. Originally, the center orb was to be supported by spokes. However, because of the durability factor needed and my desire for viewers to interact closely with the project, the design changed to a single shaft supporting the center orb. This allows unobstructed views internally and I am very pleased with the final visual esthetics and durability of the design.
Outside view showing the double-banded aluminum construction with the stainless steel bolts sandwiching the engraved acrylic inserts which allow for expansion and contraction of the materials.
My daughter Rachel next to the installed piece. This piece is currently on loan in Oak Bay, but will be exhibited in Castlegar starting spring 2020.
Thanks and attribution goes to TaffGogh from the Google’s Geodesic Help Groups who’s amazing posts and instructions served as both inspiration and the starting point for the realization of this piece.
Material: Aluminum bands with engraved coloured acrylic inlays and stainless steel fasteners
Dimensions: 183 x 89 cm
Weight: 200 pounds