Shadows of Illumination

Shadows of Illumination is a collaboration with fellow artist, Doug Hollis. Our proposal for an environmental sculpture was the winning entry for a public art commission by the Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy of the CIty of Philadelphia. The site for the project is located in West Philly, within the Common Ground Park, part of the newly renovated Public Safety Services Campus at 46th and Market Street.

Our concept involves a series of ‘shadow-casters’, layered sections that make up on overall canopy structure and cast shadows upon an existing 16’ plinth wall. The layers are perforated, anodized plate and configured so deliberate shadows appear and disappear, throughout the day, in a dynamic set of patterns that include words. For example; justice, love, respect, protect.

At the base of the canopy structure are “stoop-sitting” forms with vertical columns abstractly referencing doorways, appearing as portals from different viewpoints. The stoop forms would appear scattered throughout the park, providing seating and areas for a variety of different types of interactions, from play to performance. The selection of perforated aluminum material for these elements allows for internal lighting, creating a series of lantern-like pieces at night. Lighting would also be used to illuminate the canopy upward.

The images displayed here are renderings from the proposal. The project is currently in development.