projects
By starfive
On 13, Sep 2024 | In featured interactive sculpture light | By starfive
The Plastisphere
2024
Various plastics, steel, LEDs, microcomputers, sensors, sound
with Gwen Law, Olivia Mackall, Martin Law
The Plastisphere is an immersive, interactive art installation of an oceanic environment made from previously-used plastic and colored light. Using discarded materials and programmed sounds and lights that respond to the visitor’s presence, the piece shines a spotlight on marine pollution in an effort to re-engage our wonder in the natural world.
Sculptural features within this world include transformed plastic garbage lit by colorful lights controlled by microcomputers. Plastic sculptures emerge from faux oil spills that pool on the ground. Steel structures skinned with recovered plastics emerge from the floor and cantilever overhead. The walls are adorned with synthetic coral pods softly twinkling with lights. Plastic seaweed hangs throughout. A soft sculptured tentacled seating pod provides a place to rest and be immersed in the environment.
The custom LED programming consists of Images of plastic ocean garbage, sea creatures, corals, and space, which are mapped onto the sculptures. As an image scrolls across the piece, colors are pulled from individual pixels and displayed on lights embedded in the sculpture. Motion sensors react to a visitor’s presence, illustrating the interconnected relationships between people, plastic, and nature. An ambient wavescape soundtrack created from recordings of manipulating plastic completes the immersive experience.
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 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.
By starfive
On 03, Nov 2014 | In featured interactive sculpture light | By starfive
Star Tree
2007
Steel, computer, electronics
Exhibited: Burning Man Art Festival – Black Rock City, NV
Star Tree was an interactive sound and light sculpture included in the festival centerpiece funded by the Burning Man Organization. The alien tree held light-up “stars” which would flicker and fade while visitors recorded an audio wish upon the 10-foot tall tree and listened to wishes played back randomly.