Greyworld

I had the idea to create a bridge half way round the path which would be made from wooden planks that produce sounds as they are stepped on. Thinking about existing sound installations I remembered a dome shaped permanent feature at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park which had a wooden floor sensitised with tiny sensors that were triggered as people waled across. Looking into the creators of this piece, Greyworld, I discovered that they had in fact also done a piece on a bridge inspired by the dome sculpture 'Playground'.
Greyworld are interested in public-activated art, sculpture and interactive installations. Their work tends to be rather subtle and environmentally reflective often allowing participants to opportunity to play through the work. This fits in perfectly with my concept.

Sally Heller - Faux Man River

I find this image really inspiring as it combines light within the eco theme.

Sally Heller

Sally Heller Installations

"Sally Heller’s multimedia installations are visual journeys that take the imagination through the looking glass into a fantasy and theatrical swampland of shimmering silver mylar, wrapping paper, webbed pipe cleaners, plastic plates, chicken wire mesh and whiffle balls. They entertain, but more important, they make one think about the absurdities of modern society and pop culture. The ancients built stone cathedrals for immortality; today’s world makes plastic webbed six-pack holders that will outlast the work of even the greatest stonecutter."

This quote from Louisiana Life Magazine describing Heller's work really helps to explain what I aim to do with my work. I want a visual, experiential journey that is magical and fantasy like. The more I think about how to integrate 'eco' within my work I think about using cotton (the past of Ancoats) alongside the concept of re-use and recycling which is a main feature of present day life that is being enforced within our daily lives to create a garden/park within a city location that never had public spaces especially parks. So creating what could be in the area in the future from the past and present without affecting the current state of the changeable Ancoats. It will provide a space for people to relax and escape and for children to explore whilst emerging themselves within a sensory experience.

The idea of using cheap manufactured products is really inspiring but I think I may focus more upon the theme of clothing due to Ancoats history with cotton, creating sculptures from thread, buttons, fabric etc. 

Cotton - Fabric - Light

These are just a couple of images from the internet of cotton fields. It reminds me very much of some of the installations I have already looked at using light.

Materials?

Now I've thought about what is going to be in my space I need to consider what it will be made from. My initial thoughts whilst thinking of my design was something similar to a children's indoor jungle gym.

However I want to consider the history of Ancoats more and intertwine this into the design. During my research I looked at the designers Luzinterruptus who used recycle bags withina few pieces of their work. The concept of recycling and eco-friendly could be a good route to look into. The mushrooms made by SITU studio provided the link to fabric, so I intend to look into ways to use fabric, clothing and cotton (considering Ancoats history includes cotton factories).

Guerra de la Paz is the combination of Alain Guerra and Neraldo de la Paz—who recover landfill-bound clothing and render them into subversive art installations. This particular one reminds me of a forest with trees, grass and mushrooms and flowers in. I love the effect of it but if I were to include this style I need to consider how the participant can move through the installation.

Reorder - Installation

Fabric Mushrooms by SITU Studio in the great hall in Brooklyn Museum.  

Mushroom Installation

LED light installations

"Mushroom Patch” was welded from 1/2" steel rods by artist Butch Kanter over a two-month period. It is built on a heavily modified body of a functional Geo Metro car and covered by white Lycra and faux fur. The installation also has DMX-controlled custom LED strips.

Green Voodoo Experience

A collaboration with the Lighting Science Group and CD + M Lighting and Design Group, their exhibition “Garden Lights, Holiday Nights”. LSG, a leader in LED manufacturing, has scattered the garden with various glowing shapes. An LED topiary of space age tree shapes and small shrub orbs are arranged in a promenade on the Great Lawn of the botanical garden. The Atlanta Botanical Garden’s choice to outfit their grounds with an energy efficient display this year is a powerful message to their public that integrating low energy usage and recyclable materials are just as important as paying homage to the importance of nature and organic beauty.