
<p>Elmendorf is an expert in electronics, programming, mechanical engineering and metalworking. He has used these skills and artistic vision to successfully implement complex designs in a multitude of interactive public art installations.&nbsp; He has conceived elegant electromechanical solutions to make public art concepts a reality and has collaborated with renowned Denver artist Clark Richert on several projects, most notably the Ultimate Painting.</p>


Ryan Elmendorf


<p>As a practicing structural engineer in Denver, CO for over 15 years, Nick Geurts has always been infatuated with the use of structural materials to unite form and function.&nbsp; In 2014 he received an honorarium art grant from Burning Man Arts to build a 20ft tall stainless steel interactive musical tree, which was then donated to a local Denver foster care facility.&nbsp; This opportunity was the catalyst of his love for creating large-scale interactive public art with the goal of sharing a sense of child-like wonder with the community. Geurts&#8217; extensive experience with metalworking combined with his knowledge as a structural engineer enable his whimsical designs and result in safe, durable and elegant large-scale interactive public art.</p>


Nick Geurts


<h2>A full service studio providing concepts, engineering and fabrication for public art.</h2>


Projects

Art Services

E/G Art


<p>The Elmendorf/Geurts public art studio is well versed in taking public art projects from concept to completion. With a combined experience of over 20 years in public art, the studio leadership has developed a team that is highly skilled and integrated, flexible and specialized. By keeping all of the processes in-house, E/G is able to pre-empt engineering issues as well as find efficiencies in fabrication and installation. With ~30 completed projects, the E/G team has worked as part of design teams on projects with budgets up to $30 million and side-by-side with established artists such as Larry Kirkland, Haddad|Drugan, Patrick Marold, Michael Clapper and Donald Lipski.<br><br>Ryan Elmendorf and Nick Geurts (E/G) are an artist/engineer team working in Denver, Colorado. The team consists of two creative people, both are engineers and are dedicated to creating multi-media art that is durable and easily maintained even in harsh environments. With over 20 years of experience, the team emphasizes collaboration and works with organizations commissioning public art, design teams and the local community to create artwork that inspires and endures. Their designs often have robust embedded electronic light and sound systems to engage the public in site-responsive and site-specific art. Play, nature, geometry and life are themes often seen in the designs of the E/G team, which are radically inclusive to all audiences.</p>


About


<p>Denver-based fabrication studio serving artists throughout the US.</p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:700">Info@elmendorfgeurts.com</p>



<h2>Call us</h2>



<p>720-295-1577</p>



<h2>Visit the Shop</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/940+S+Jason+St,+Denver,+CO+80223/@39.6998753,-105.0007681,17.03z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x876c7f08946e0565:0x6b4299710cbfd3ab!2s940+S+Jason+St,+Denver,+CO+80223!3b1!8m2!3d39.6999003!4d-104.9984896!3m4!1s0x876c7f08946e0565:0x6b4299710cbfd3ab!8m2!3d39.6999003!4d-104.9984896" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.google.com/maps/place/940+S+Jason+St,+Denver,+CO+80223/@39.6998753,-105.0007681,17.03z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x876c7f08946e0565:0x6b4299710cbfd3ab!2s940+S+Jason+St,+Denver,+CO+80223!3b1!8m2!3d39.6999003!4d-104.9984896!3m4!1s0x876c7f08946e0565:0x6b4299710cbfd3ab!8m2!3d39.6999003!4d-104.9984896" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">940 S. Jason St Unit 9</a></p>


Contact Us


<p>Four large-scale structures made from mild steel and aluminum depicting voting booths with flamingos standing inside, inspired by the diverse natural habitats Florida provides for all its wildlife. These oversized flamingoes are a reminder that we share this location with all the rich life that also calls this location home.&nbsp;Located in Palm Beach, Florida, created by Matthew Mazotta. </p>


Vote


<p>For the South Loop District in Bloomington, MN artist Donald Lipski created a larger-than-life songbird, the American Goldfinch, that can be found perched atop a new sign welcoming all to the South Loop District. The songbird is a nod to the neighboring&nbsp;Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, home to many migrating birds as well as birdwatchers who travel to see a variety of species, including the American Goldfinch, represented in Lipski’s final sculpture. The songbird also represents other forms of migration and travel via the nearby MSP International Airport as well as immigration which helps to increase and to diversify Bloomington’s population.</p>



<p>With the help of experts at the Refuge, Lipski suggested 10 different songbirds, and the public cast their votes with the American Goldfinch as the winner.</p>



<p></p>


South Loop


<p>Part of a series of three sculptures Equis faces the Colorado State Capitol Building and communicates the Indigenous American intersection with the 16th-century Columbian exchange. Equis also serves as a symbol of the library’s active commitment to community equity. Made from glass and steel, installed in 2024, created by Paula Castillo. </p>


Equis


<p>RISE is a larger-than-life kinetic sculpture, performance space, and shade structure inspired by the purple-striped jellyfish (Chrysaora colorata), an aquatic species often found off the coast of San Diego. Located on the Pacific coast, this work serves as a gentle reminder of the future impact of our changing climate. Should rising sea levels occur, it evokes the possibility of a real jellyfish inhabiting the very space where RISE now stands. Approximately 30 feet tall, located at the San Diego Airport, created by Matthew Mazzotta 2025.</p>


Rise


<p>Sound Transit, the Puget Sound Area’s transportation company has expanded their light rail system almost 8 miles, adding three stations. &nbsp;At the station in Federal Way, a town of 100,000 people between Seattle and Tacoma, Lipski created this two-story tall glass desk lamp. &nbsp;He was paying homage to this area, which is the historic center of the contemporary American glass art world. &nbsp;This was largely driven by the life’s work of Dale Chihuly and the glass world he created in his wake. &nbsp; A large lampshade structure consisting of a concrete column and bench, stainless steel internal structure, and glass lampshade. Located in Federal Way, Seattle, Washington, installed in 2025, created by Donald Lipski.</p>



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Leafy Wader


<p>Part of a series of three, this work elevates a metamorphosis of a Meso-American motif in conversation with the reinvigorated Ponti building and the Beaux-Arts narrative at Civic Center Park.&nbsp;<em>Glyph</em> is inspired by the Meso-American Xicalcoliuhqui and the Greek-Key glyphs. Made from cut polystyrene and fiberglass, installed in 2024, created by Paula Castillo. </p>



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Glyph


<p>Five hundred eighteen concrete pavers that each contain an array of integral acrylic rods and LEDS, a LED micro controller and a sensor. The sensors triangulate sounds such as footfalls and conversations and create a wave pattern like ripples on a pond. Each sound that is sensed creates a wave origin point and the ripples propagate, interact with each other, and reflect off of the perimeter, all based on the wave equation. Commissioned by the City of Aurora by Milender White for the Parkside at City Center (14531 E Alameda Ave, Aurora, CO, 80012).</p>



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Light Pond

Three Floating Friends

Belly Yup

Sentinel

Centipenty


<p>The E/G team fabricated the 12 suspended circuit boards which are etched and cut out with chevron patterns. Each panel is mounted with 300 addressable LEDs which are programmed to visualize the current wind conditions through data which is collected via a roof-mounted ultrasonic anemometer. E/G also designed, engineered and installed the artwork&#8217;s hanging system.</p>



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Interface


<p id="block-76d744ee-d57c-4aba-b1d4-a02c1c764f2f">Larry Kirkland designed this set of custom glass and mirror polished stainless steel for a Federal Courthouse. The E/G team engineered, fabricated and installed the two sculptures.</p>



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Pensacola Pendants


<p>Quadrivium is a hollow triacontahedron&nbsp;structure comprised of 30 aluminum rhombi embedded with 20,000 individually addressable LEDs.</p>



<p>Learn More: <a href="https://www.westword.com/arts/clark-richert-sculpture-brings-light-hope-to-edge-of-downtown-denver-11723001">https://www.westword.com/arts/clark-richert-sculpture-brings-light-hope-to-edge-of-downtown-denver-11723001</a></p>



<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CImRqSFFyWF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">Ryan Elmendorf and Nick Geurts on Instagram</a></p>



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Quadrivium


<p></p>



<p>Matthew Geller worked with the Cleveland Water department to design a sculptural element for the entrance to a small neighborhood park. While the pipes could never carry water, they provide a whimsical architectural element for the park as well as lighting and a suspended bench.</p>


Coo Lot with Plumb Pipes


<p><br>Chain Canopy is a series of hanging chains in a 3-dimensional catenary, with all of the chain links welded and inverted to form a sculptural canopy. The piece was commissioned for a new retirement community at the Anschutz Medical Campus.</p>


Chain Canopy


<p></p>



<p>720 stainless steel triangles join to create this 8&#8242;, 6v geodesic sphere. At the intersection of each triangle, the surface of the sphere has an addressable LED which allows the controller to create a light pattern across the surface of the piece. In the center of the sphere, visible through the gaps between the triangular panels, is a 4,000 watt LED array projecting the geodesic pattern which can seen on the walls of the venues. The sphere is split into two hemispheres, each is able to rotate independently of the other and the entire assembly rotates as one piece, like a traditional disco ball would.</p>



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Crescendo


<p>A 6v geodesic sphere structure held up with steel struts covered in 1000 acrylic rods separated by 6&#8243;. Each rod is spring mounted so that they move in the wind and has an addressable LED which display a kaleidoscopic visual pattern based on wind speed.</p>


Luminous Wind


<p>A series of glass panel frames on the side of a new high rise in downtown Denver.  Glass has printed images of trees with a grid of 1 mile of addressable LED strip dynamic back lighting.</p>



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Echo


<p>Portal&#8217;s Eye is a acrylic mobile suspended in the entrance atrium of the Sheila Kuehl Family Wellness Center in San Fernando, California.</p>


Portals Eye


<p>Collaborated to produce 3 motion activated, talking parking meters.</p>



<p>Download the video here:&nbsp;<a href="https://e-g.mystagingwebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/TalkingParkingMeters.mov">TalkingParkingMeters</a></p>


Talking Parking Meters


<p>Fabricated an 8’ wide stainless steel bird’s nest and installed 800 acrylic rods “twigs”.</p>


The Nest


<p>Engineered, fabricated and installed frame for mural and pair of stainless steel aviator sunglasses.</p>


The Aviators


<p>Located at the Dallas Love Field Airport, this work refers to the contrails left by air traffic that are then distorted and whipped by the winds in the sky. As the sculpture reflects different quadrants of the sky, it reveals layers of color and value, overlaid on each other from the viewers perspectives.</p>


Contrails


<p> A dynamic bench and canopy sculpture supported on four springs, designed to be a sensory experience for the students at the school for the deaf and blind, which sways when participants sit on it.</p>



<p>Learn more | <a href="https://matthewgeller.com/work">https://matthewgeller.com/work</a></p>


As Rose as Rain


<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Engineered, Fabricated and Installed 36 freestanding dichroic glass and stainless steel sculptures with solar powered lights along the K Street underpass in Washington, D.C..</span></p>



<p>Learn more |&nbsp;http://www.widgery.com/public-projects/leading-lights</p>


Leading Lights


<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Upper blush is a dynamic steel canopy sculpture. The canopy contains rainwater catch basins and two suspended porch swings. Visitors can rest on the benches and when they rock, they change the direction of the rainwater as it flows off of the canopy.<br></span></p>



<p>Learn more |&nbsp;https://matthewgeller.com/upper-blush/</p>


Upper Blush


<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The E/G team worked on the laser cut steel box components for this light-based artwork in a revitalized railroad underpass in downtown Denver.</span></p>


Arabesque


<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This sculpture consists of 10 hand-cut full-size canoes and LED lights suspended from a 30ft tall stainless steel catenary arch.</span></p>



<p>Learn More<br><a href="http://www.donaldlipski.net/the-canoes">http://www.donaldlipski.net/the-canoes</a><br><a href="https://www.pbs.org/video/donald-lipski-oboutn/">https://www.pbs.org/video/donald-lipski-oboutn/</a></p>


The Canoes


<p>The E/G team worked on two parts of this three-part sculpture. The exterior sculptures consists of 4 10’ tall freestanding stainless steel frames that hold 2,000 stainless steel mirror polished squares. The interior sculpture consists of a wall mounted stainless steel arc supporting four small stainless steel frames with over 400 dichroic glass squares.</p>


<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Deterministic Chaos" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_ChPTSP9zOg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>



<p>Learn More |&nbsp;<a href="http://www.widgery.com">http://www.widgery.com</a></p>


Deterministic Chaos


<p>Spot consists of a full-size New York Taxi (Toyota Prius) balanced on a 24’ tall steel and fiberglass dalmatian nose. &nbsp;Fabricated Prius reinforcement and designed and installed lighting for the headlights and Taxi light as well as the windshield wipers when it rains.</p>



<p>Learn More:<br><a href="https://mymodernmet.com/spot-donald-lipski-public-art/">https://mymodernmet.com/spot-donald-lipski-public-art/</a></p>



<p><a href="http://gothamist.com/2018/05/17/bring_it_on_clifford.php">http://gothamist.com/2018/05/17/bring_it_on_clifford.php</a></p>


Spot


<p>True West is an interactive compass that points West in its resting position. Participants can affect the direction and rotation of the needle by interacting with three platforms around the central compass structure.</p>


True West


<p>Seesaw Wave Machine is an interactive mechanical wave machine. It consists of 30 suspended seesaws,&nbsp;each with a wooden seat suspended from the beam above, connected at the apexes with torsion bars. A wave motion is initiated when any individual seesaw is actuated by participants,&nbsp;transferring the rocking motion from one seesaw to the next through rotational motion. The end of each seesaw has a multiple lights that displays the dynamic wave shape across the in motion, with the position of each seesaw lagging slightly behind its neighbor.</p>



<p>Learn More |<br>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/262424680/seesaw-wave-machine</p>



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Seesaw Wave Machine


<p><span data-offset-key="di22r-0-0">The <em>Tree of (Im)Permanence</em> is an interactive musical tree consisting of polished stainless steel pipes forming the tree trunk and limbs supporting 25 polished stainless steel tubular bell chimes which have deep resonating bell-like tones. The base of the tree is plasma cut by hand to form the tree&#8217;s root system. At the base of the tree trunk sits a children&#8217;s t<span class="text_exposed_show">oy piano which has 25 keys with the bell chimes tuned to the corresponding notes. The keyboard is midi controlled with wiring that goes through the trunk and limbs that powers a solenoid to strike the bell chime, as well as powers on an LED light rod parallel to the chime that fades as the chime sound fades. The toy piano has an led strip that illuminates the keys at night. The base is also backlit by LEDs which light up when the notes are played.&nbsp;</span></span></p>



<p>In 2016, the sculpture was generously donated to <a href="https://shilohhouse.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Shiloh House</a>, a support organization for youth and families, for permanent installation.</p>



<p><span data-offset-key="di22r-0-0"><span class="text_exposed_show">Installed:<br></span></span>August, 2014 @ Burning Man, Black Rock City<br>January, 2015 @ Denver Performing Arts Complex, Denver<br>May, 2015 @ The Children’s Hospital, Aurora<br>Permanently @ Shiloh House, Centennial</p>



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Tree of (Im)permanence


<p><span data-offset-key="di22r-0-0"><span class="text_exposed_show">This sculpture, created for the new Netflix production offices building on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles, commemorates the site’s historical landmark location as Warner Brother’s original Los Angeles location where the first talkie film was produced. The stainless steel sculpture, created in the shape of four curved film strips, features a media screen on the front skin of the sculptures. This media skin of the sculpture features the artist’s interpretation of the film, “The Jazz Singer”, the first talkie created at the site, focusing on the tension between two generations and the analog past and the digital present and future.</span></span></p>



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That Child of Fleeting Time


<p>Fabricated for Brooks+Scarpa, the Gateway Sculpture at Pembroke Pines welcomes guests to a city plaza in South Florida. As part of a new Civic Center Complex that includes a performing arts hall and art gallery for the City of Pembroke Pines, Brooks + Scarpa Architects designed new entry and shade canopy sculptures with attending landscape features. These sculptures and landscape elements frame pedestrian gateways into a new public plaza, providing wayfinding and anchoring a sense-of-arrival. Designed as public art, the aluminum sculptures emerge as tree columns that lead up to an array of rings with perforated plates that spin in the continuous breeze of south Florida. The sculptures provide shaded area for seating, as well as programmable up-lighting that enhances user experience. The pavilion is located in the front of the new Pembroke Pines Civic Center and City Hall.</p>



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Portoval


<p><span data-offset-key="di22r-0-0">The <em>Tree of Transformation</em> is the second in a series of 20ft tall interactive musical trees. It takes the form of a twisting steel pipe tree trunk sprouting from a full-size upright piano. Three main limbs branch out to form a canopy and support nine steelpans with a four octave range. When the keys of the piano are pressed, solenoids are actuated to strike the pans in the correct location to play the corresponding note. Because some notes overlap between pans, there are a total of 99 solenoids but only 48 notes, which means that some notes will have multiple pans being struck resulting in a rich, complex sound, much like a steelpan orchestra. As you approach the piece at night, you will only see the piano by way of a piano lamp which illuminates the keyboard, and a piano bench which sits in front of the piano inviting you to play. When a note is played, each striker also has a high intensity white led light that flashes, lighting up the branches and pans in a sequence following the notes being played.</span></p>



<p>The temporary installation in Civic Center Park was a part of the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://civiccenterconservancy.org/" target="_blank">Civic Center Conservancy</a>‘s effort to revamp the park and bring creative experiences to those who use it. Funded by one of the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.artsandvenuesdenver.com/imagine-2020/psyah" target="_blank">P.S. You are Here Grants</a>, a grant from Xcel Energy and a generous donation from Slifer Smith &amp; Frampton.</p>



<p>Installed |<br>August, 2016 @ Burning Man, Black Rock City<br>September, 2018 @ Civic Center Park, Denver</p>



<p><span data-offset-key="di22r-0-0">Learn More |<br><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1809088943/tree-of-transformation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1809088943/tree-of-transformation<br></a><a href="https://303magazine.com/2018/01/tree-of-transformation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://303magazine.com/2018/01/tree-of-transformation/<br></a><a href="https://theknow.denverpost.com/2018/01/10/tree-of-transformation-denver-civic-centers-public-art/172716/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://theknow.denverpost.com/2018/01/10/tree-of-transformation-denver-civic-centers-public-art/172716/</a></span></p>



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Tree of Transformation


<p><em>Robot Resurrection</em> is towering 30 foot tall, human piloted, articulating, fire shooting sculpture made from 90% recycled materials and reclaimed airplane parts. From the torso cockpit, the operator(s) manipulate the Robot’s motions and fire effects. Night time displays include lasers and various lighting effects.</p>



<p>The Robot is a modular structure comprised of the trailer base, legs, torso, arms and head. Each piece is attached to the next with grade 8 steel bolts. It is assembled horizontally and lifted/lowered into vertical position with a winch that is attached to the box truck and then removed. The legs of the Robot are attached to the base with a 6’ long steel hinge.</p>



<p>The Robot has a wireless network with mobile operation to allow participants to control the Robot from the ground, with supervision. All propane lines are custom made from ⅜” stainless steel tubing with flare JCM fittings, with an operating pressure of 30 psi. The two 20 lb. propane bottles are housed in the steel feet of the Robot, each with its own ¼ turn shut off valve.&nbsp;The moving parts of the Robot are 12’ from the ground so they are safely away from audiences. All motion is limited for safety by proximity sensors located in each actuator. Each motion has its own solenoid valve and operates on a 12v fused system. There are 2 separate joystick controllers that control all the arm motions. The head rotates side to side and up and down manually.</p>



<p>Each shoulder has a high torque winch motor to rotate the arms up and down. Just inside each armpit is a pivot point with a pneumatic cylinder to move the arm in and out. The elbows have have linear actuators to move the forearm up and down. The wrists have small motors inside to rotate the hands 180 degrees. All air cylinders run off one 12v compressor and 2 separate air tanks for sufficient air volume of around 25-40 psi per tank.</p>


<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Robot Takes over RiNo - Robot Resurrection" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rjZANE8y_y4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>


Robot Resurrection


<p>The <em>Therolin</em> is a revolutionary new type of large scale musical instrument.&nbsp; By pairing a 20 foot long piano string suspended in a steel pipe to a <a href="http://www.thereminworld.com/Article/14232/what-s-a-theremin-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">theremin</a> , the <em>Therolin</em> converts the musical output from the theremin into notes played on the string by &#8220;plucking&#8221; it with electromagnet actuators on specially engineered frets. Traditionally a theremin responds to the hand movements of its player to create electronic sounds, but now <em>Therolin</em> players will use it to play a giant stringed instrument, creating a physical sound in lieu of the traditional synthesized sound.</p>



<p>The <em>Therolin</em> consists of a single 20 foot long piece of 10 inch diameter stainless steel pipe that emerges from the ground at a shallow angle. The end of the pipe is approximately 5&#8242;-6&#8243; off of the ground. As you approach, you will notice that there is a pedestal located near the end of the pipe which has a theramin antenna built in. Looking down the pipe you will see a continuous strand of piano wire along its center line, and a series of supports (or frets) and electromagnetic coils.</p>



<p>A low-profile base plate sits just below the Earth&#8217;s surface, and is anchored to the ground with four screw anchors. This will give the illusion that the pipe is emerging from the ground with no support.</p>



<p><em>Therolin</em> is designed to be minimal and unassuming, while still having an intriguing presence. Participants will be drawn in by its form, and only upon closer inspection will they discover something completely unexpected and wonderful. As they get close to, or reach out to touch the theramin antenna, they will notice a soft musical sound starting to emit. If they move their hand closer to the antenna, the pitch of the sound will rise, and as they move their hand away the pitch will fall. The experience will be the interface of a traditional theramin, but with a more real, physical sound in lieu of the traditional synthesized sound.</p>



<p><em>Therolin</em> is meant to inspire collaboration. Once a participant learns how to play it, they will begin to create impromptu performances and draw in more participants. Based on the artists&#8217; experience with their past works, they anticipate waves of people interacting with it, i.e. once one person discovers how it works they spread the knowledge and excitement to friends and even strangers passing by until a crowd forms, and then eventually dissipates for the whole process to repeat.</p>


Therolin


<p><span class="_4n-j _fbReactionComponent__eventDetailsContentTags fsl" data-testid="event-permalink-details"><em>Sky Song</em> is a musically interactive artwork on the facade of the newly built Levitt Pavilion Denver. The piece invites you to create your own music and light show by pushing buttons on a polished stainless steel sculpture in the Levitt plaza.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Composed of two separate parts, the sculpture is both fixed onto the façade of the pavilion and rises from the plaza at the venue’s ground level. Visitors can press 33 buttons on the ground-level structure to make ethereal music accompanied by glowing light shows above. The structures are mirror-plated, so if you stand at just the right angle during the day, the reflection of the sky creates the illusion that the heavens are reaching through the venue and into its plaza.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
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Skysong


<p><span class="relative"><span class="content edit-profile-blurb js-edit-profile-blurb"><em>Awakening</em> is both a large scale articulating sculpture and an immersive camera obscura space that represents our coming into existence. As a large scale articulating sculpture the piece is comprised of three separate related structures; the head facing toward two hands rising out of the ground.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span>Climb through the ear of the giant head and you find a massive camera obscura inside!</p>



<p>Practically, a camera obscura is a dark space with a small hole in one wall that lets light in. Directly across from the hole the image from the outside world is projected onto the wall upside down. A precursor to modern photography, the camera obscura also lead Leonardo DaVinci to discover that the human eye functions in exactly the same way. In this immersive space, you see things differently, the world looks familiar but different.</p>



<p>The head and hands are 16ft tall and the hands are placed an “arms” length away from the head with palms facing inward, as if the giant being is looking at its hands for the first time. The joints of the fingers are 12&#8243; diameter polished stainless steel spheres, and they are actuated by an elegant and innovative arrangement of stainless steel aircraft cable and motors. The structure of the hands mimic the anatomy of the human hands, with the outline of the steel plates representing the skin of the hands and the negative space within following the shape of the bones.</p>



<p>Using optical lenses in the eyes, the head is a stereoscopic camera obscura that focuses light from the outside and projects an image onto the back surface of the room. Each eye has a colored filter, and participants are given cardboard 3D glasses to give the image 3 dimensional depth with the perspective of a giant being. The field of vision of the projected image is nearly 180 degrees vertically and horizontally, which gives the viewer a sense of immersion.</p>



<p>The human body is the most highly engineered object in existence, a machine of uncountable parts and unfathomable function. Its workings have served as inspiration for all of humanity&#8217;s greatest inventions. This work serves as an homage to two most amazing mechanisms in that machine: the human eye and hand. They represent what separates us/life from the rest of the universe, the ability to observe the world around us and manifest change in that world.</p>



<p>Learn More |</p>



<p><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/262424680/awakening-at-burning-man-2016">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/262424680/awakening-at-burning-man-2016</a></p>


Location	Phoenix, AZ
Artist	Donald Lipski

Services	Design Electromechanical Engineering Fabrication Public Art Structural Engineering
Year Completed	2018
Dimensions	24' x 9'
Materials	Stainless steel, acrylic

Phoenix, AZ

Donald Lipski

2018

24' x 9'

Stainless steel, acrylic