projects
The Plastisphere: The Arch
2023
Various plastics, steel, LEDs, raspberry pi
with Gwen Law & Olivia Mackall
A 12 foot high arch sculpture covered in a variety of corals made from different plastic materials and lit to add light, color, and movement.
Gwen created the sculptures out of a variety of plastics. I wrote my own software in pygame which maps enhanced images of coral to the plastic coral and displays them through LEDs on the sculptures, with added effects to mimic the movement and light patterns of ocean waves. We installed 600 LEDs in the sculpture. This will be a part of a larger installation.
The Plastisphere: Squids
2022
Plastic, steel, LEDs, raspberry pis
with Gwen Law & Olivia Mackall
A tryptic installation that shows a material evolution of plastic bottles, light, and sound to depict garbage transforming into life. The Plastisphere narrates the story of oceanic animal life, forced to live and cohabitate in plastic garbage environments.
Gwen created the sculptures out of a variety of plastic bottles and caps, with some steel support. I wrote my own software in pygame which uses enhanced images of ocean life and displays them on the LEDs, with each of the three squids getting a unique set of images and settings to create its own personality and story. We installed approximately 300 LEDs in each piece. This will be a part of a larger installation.
Cloud
2017
9′ x 12′ x 4′
Steel, chickenwire, polyfill, LEDs, raspberry pi, fadecandy.
with Olivia Mackall
The wire-covered steel frame was given to Can Can Wonderland and I was asked to turn it into a light up cloud. I used 32 RGB LED strings with a total of 1600 LEDs, connected to 4 Fadecandies and a Raspberry Pi. It cycles through a series of different light programs. It hangs as a permanent installation in the back arcade at Can Can Wonderland.
By starfive
On 03, Mar 2018 | In featured interactive sculpture light | By starfive
The Hole Formerly Known as the Longest Hole
18th Hole at Can Can Wonderland
Group project by: David Bryan, Laura Bryan, Cali Mastny, Caly McMorrow, Aaron Prust
Raspberry Pis, LEDs, HDPE plastic, sensors.
The 18th hole is part of an artist-designed mini golf course at Can Can Wonderland. It is a straight hole, over 200 feet long. We created 8 light poles with sensors mounted along the course, each controlled by a raspberry pi and networked together. They display a variety of light programs, and when a ball triggers a sensor, the light program will change.
Crystal
2016
Acrylic, LED ring, arduino gemma.
I laser cut and etched arcylic, which fits together in a circle. The LED ring slots in on the bottom and the arduino gemma fits below. There are 3 modes of light programs that allow the user to switch between calm and dynamic lighting.
By starfive
On 03, Mar 2018 | In featured interactive light | By starfive
Space Lounge Tunnel
v3.0: 2016, updated hardware in 2019
Steel, coroplast, plastic, LEDs, fadecandy, kinect, speakers, laptop.
With Caly McMorrow, Olivia Mackall
The tunnel is the entrance to the Space Lounge at a yearly science fiction convention. It can be setup as simple as a pretty entrance, or it can be an interactive experience, where people walk through, they are detected and lights and sound are triggered. The tunnel is controlled by a raspberry pi and distance sensor. The lights and sound can easily be changed to create different vibes – from a friendly welcoming entrance to a security scanner complete with alarms.
Cyber Fairy Wings
2014
Acrylic, LEDs, straps
I designed and created these laser-cut acrylic wings as a costume piece for an event. Eighteen sets were created in a variety of colors.
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By starfive
On 14, Nov 2014 | No Comments | In featured interactive | By starfive
Elevator Shanty
2014
Exhibited:
Art Shanty Projects 2014 – White Bear Lake, MN
Northern Spark Festival 2014 – Minneapolis, MN
Elevator Shanty is a interactive elevator experience is a collaboration designed for Art Shanty Projects – a month-long outdoor winter art festival in the middle of a frozen lake. It was revived a second time for Northern Spark Art Festival.
It gives the appearance of a working elevator, complete with lights, buttons, vibrations, music and moving elevator doors – all controlled by an operator at a computer in the back room.
I was a part of teams working on designing, assembling, laser cutting control panels, programming, wiring, decorating, and user experience. During the festivals, I also ran the controls and interacted with the public as an elevator attendant.
By starfive
On 12, Nov 2014 | In featured sculpture light experiments | By starfive
Alien Plants
2013
plastic, fiber optics, electronics
Some plants exhibited: All Worlds Fair 2013 – San Francisco, CA
I created a series of alien-looking plants out of recyled plastics, fiber optics, LEDs and electronics. I was able to combine organic shapes through heating and shaping a variety of plastics, and technology with color-changing LEDs, to create something familiar, yet alien.
Video of Alien Flower changing color, controlled by an arduino microcontroller.
Mockingbird
2012
Steel
Minneapolis, MN
A welded steel bird with a wire-frame look and a 6-foot wingspan, commissioned for a New Year’s Eve event.