Narrative of the Public Art process
Alice Aycock, New York, NY - Winner
Artist's Statement: "Ghost Ballet of the East Bank Machineworks"
My proposal for the East Bank Greenway is located at the site of the gantry overhead crane. The location of the sculptural installation on the existing concrete pillars and steel trusses is intended to emphasize the historical significance of this place as well as to operate as a memory trace of the past industrial activities there. The installation takes full advantage of the existing structureës height and presumed structural integrity in order to maximize its placement on the Nashville skyline. The new metaphorical construction operates as a sign signifying the activity and energy that was generated on the site and also refers to the energy and excitement that still exists. The flying trusses and bridgework, which form the compositional structure of the project, refer not only to the cranes that once occupied the site but also to the existing bridges, which span the river. The flying trusses suggest that the viewer experience the entire site as a work of art - a museum without walls. The turbine whirlwind on the ground is a reference to the dynamo, which generates energy for the spiral galactic lighting elements above. These elements could be seen as the ìghost imageî of the past as well as the visual manifestation of the energy of the present. The materials are painted aluminum and stainless steel where necessary for structural integrity. (bolts, plates, etc.). Additional sculptural components are neon and thermo-formed acrylic shapes. The neon light will be attached to a small aluminum truss for structural strength.
The overall dimensions of the installation are approximately 100' long x 100' high x 60' deep. The design is entirely conceptual and components will be adjusted in consultation with the project structural engineer. The structure will be engineered for hurricane strength winds, snow and human loads. It will be engineered locally, most likely fabricated at Dover Tank and Plate Company in Dover, Ohio where it will be shop fitted before installation and trucked to the site prior to installation. A local construction firm under the supervision of the artist will install it. Wherever, feasible local businesses will be utilized.
Ed Carpenter, Portland, OR - Semi-Finalist
Artist's Statement: "An Icon for Nashville’s East Bank Greenway"
It is as long as the biggest boats and barges on the river, springing from the old crane base beside the water, bridging across to the park in front of the stadium, and winding its way north along the river bank. Pedestrians wander beside and beneath it, enjoying the company of this friendly interloper. Remnant, bridge, sculpture---it could be any or all, could be old or new, reminiscent of a bygone industrial rig or some “thang” that crawled up out of the Cumberland River. Its straightforward construction and reclaimed truss body are reminders of the hard-working heritage of the site. Its whimsical forms suggest an enigmatic creature inhabiting the park as playful mascot and civic protector. Its bright yellow color and multi-point lighting create a sparkling profile from great distances day and night. Its leviathan scale gets the most from salvaged materials and from the site. Its abstract and friendly nature make it irresistible to citizens of all ages and walks of life.
For now, call it “Nashquatch”, or “Hellbender “, “Trussdog”, “Greenwog”, “Uktena”, or “Zagger”. Eventually a public competition could pick the moniker, building citizen involvement and ownership. Meanwhile, go on, head for the Greenway and walk and gawk, run under it, stalk it, talk to it, squawk at it---you never know….
Ean Eldred, Portland, OR - Semi-Finalist
Christopher Janney, Lexington, MA - Semi-Finalist
Artist's Statement
In reviewing the conditions of the EastBank Greenway site, we saw the need to develop a project which complimented both the large scale and distance of the walkway and the intimate scale of the pedestrian. As a result, we would like to propose a series of interactive light/sound columns along the Eastbank Greenway titled “Sonic Forest: Nashville.” Having created a prototype installation which toured in Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts, we are confident we can create a rugged permanent installation that brings life and vitality to this walkway year-round. As a variation on Christopher’s “Urban Musical Instruments” series, it is an interactive sound/light environment combining elements of electrical and mechanical engineering, architecture, urban planning, and public art.
“Sonic Forest: Nashville” will be composed of a series of slender aluminum “columns, ” each 8 feet in height and 9 inches in diameter. Each column will contain audio speakers, lights, and photo-electric sensors. The columns will be made of cor-ten steel to reflect the history of construction along the area. Naturally rusting surfaces with low-relief forms calling up the rich history of river boat and steel construction along this area of the river.
Soundscore- People would “play” the installation by touching the columns in certain marked places. This activity would trigger the sensors and produce an ever-changing “score” of light patterns together with melodic tones, text and environmental sounds indigenous to Nashville, such as the state bird, the Mockingbird and the May Flies and the alligator snapping turtle. These sounds will change throughout the day and week so, the piece will never sound exactly the same way twice (listen to soundscore sample).
Historic/Civic References- The soundscore would also draw from local natural, civic, cultural references. In consultation with local historians and artists, there could also be historic references such as the Shawnee Indians, the French fur traders, ship and bridge building, liquor and tobacco traders famous to Nashville, adding another site-specific layer to the collage.
Environmental
Clock: On the hour, the columns will play the time of day in unison.
Ghosts in the Forest: At random moments, the installation will trigger itself
in specific patterns, as if ghosts were passing invisibly by the elements.
In addition, if no one has interacted with the work for a set time (say 10
minutes),
the installation will “play by itself” for 5 seconds, beckoning people
to come and interact.
Riddle: Etched into a nearby plaque will be a riddle, which indicates a pattern
to be walked among the columns. If a stroller deciphers the riddle and carries
out its directions, the artwork will respond with a “dance.”
In conclusion, my interest is to create an interactive artwork which compliments
both the scale of this vast urban landscape and the intimate scale of the
pedestrian; a work which can be experienced both from as far away as across
the river as
a “light sculpture” and as close as touching the forms, interacting
with the artwork, in a sense, “playing with the city”, becoming a
unique icon for Nashville.
Dennis Oppenheim, New York, NY - Semi-Finalist
Artist's Statement:
Written music is formed into the structure of a guitar with notes traveling around the inside of the instrument defining itís shape. The flow of the music and the following notes mimic a river as it flows downstream. The notes for River Song (as yet to be composed) will be constructed from 1/2î Lexan and aluminum with LED lights outlining the shape. The notes will resemble small boats with flag like sails. These notes/boats will be programmed to go on, one at a time, until the entire guitar is lit up. It will then start again. This part of the project will be subcontracted to a large sign company in Tennessee. Some of the aluminum structure will be anodized. It is my interest to correlate movement along a river with music. Object/ boats can be seen as notes, creating music along the journey.
The river becomes an instrument.
Thomas Sayre, Raleigh, NC - Semi-Finalist
Artist's Statement on work entitled "Stereoscope"
We are proposing a two part kinetic sculpture to be mounted on each of the two steel trusses directly over the concrete columns at the edge of the river. At 50’ in length and sitting on top of the roughly 30’ of derrick crane elevation, the two rotating, polished stainless spires will reach an elevation and scale to truly take its place and have power in the existing urban composition. Its scale will speak to the Shelby Street Bridge, the various views from downtown, it will be prominent in a view looking east from many blocks up Broadway Street, as well as establish a landmark from the East Bank Greenway and from whatever development proceeds to the south of Shelby Street Bridge and around the football stadium.
The spires will move (within a limitable range of motion) based on wind from virtually any direction. The spires will move wind contacting polished, stainless wind foils attached to the tapering stainless pole. The spires will therefore sparkle from different positions along their length based on their relative position to the sun throughout the day. Controlled via a precision moveable counterweight assembly, the slightest of breeze will move the spires. They will form an ever-changing, dynamic composition variously acting as a gate which opens, closes, frames, and plays with the east/west view spanning the river. In this way, the spires playfully beckon and invite conversation from the west (downtown) looking east into future development of East Nashville and, conversely, from the east playing against the existing Nashville skyline.
At night, the spires will be illuminated by silicone-encased, four-color LED tubes. As the spires move, brilliant lines of colored light will trace across the night sky in an ever-moving composition. Additionally, the color of the LED tubes will vary based on a signal from a river height monitor device, mounted to one of the crane columns. Used all across the country by the U.S. Geological Survey to document the effect of rainfall on the nation’s inland waterways, the LED tubes will change color based on the elevational height of the river. As the river changes its height, the spires will respond with up to 16 color variations. The LED tubes will, therefore, provide a constantly changing visual spectacle using 21st century technology linked to the unrelenting, ancient flow of the Cumberland River.