Chrysalis

This kinetic work is about change and light. With a background in architecture, I begin each project by studying the architectural characteristics of the space. In this case the four-story wall of glass is not only the principle source of natural light but also a generator of airflow. In the winter when the glass is cold there is an invisible cascade of air falling to the floor. In the summer the direction is reversed.

This energy causes the carefully balanced reflective plates to move and tremble. The wire structure is repetitive and as light as possible. The plates serve as the canvas on which the air makes the art. The movement of the air is infinitely varied and imaginative.

 Tim Prentice (born 1930, New York City, NY)

Chrysalis, 2009

Polycarbonate plates, stainless steel wire, aluminum pipe

35 ft. h X 4 ft. d

Location: Inside the McGuire Translational Research Facility, east bank campus