+ Steel tube and plate with automotive paint, polished steel, hardware / 2024
+ Installed at School Without Walls at Francis Stevens, Washington DC
+ Commissioned by the Washington DC Government, Department of General Services, Percent for Art
Engineering: Shahab Torabian and Eric R. Ober, SGH
Fabrication: Sultz
Installation: Majer Metal Works
Thanks to Sandy Bellamy, Principal Young, Thomas Dixon of MCN Build and the staff of School Without Walls at Francis Stevens
​​BLOOM is a site-specific installation designed for the school’s garden courtyard, a series of twelve nature-inspired monuments. These vibrant-colored steel posts soar towards the sky in a celebration of the outdoors, coated in bright colors and gradients drawn directly from local flora native to the Washington DC ecoregion. The twelve number of sculptural pillars stand in reference to the twelve months of the year -- an ode to nature, but also to the passage of time over the course of each day of the year.
Like large viewing scopes, the tubes are sheared at the top and are each capped with a polished stainless steel plate with mirror finish, reflecting back the ever-changing hues and tones of the sky above. The mirrored tops of each steel tube post are a continuous reflection of the passage of time. Throughout the day, they reflect back the ephemeral shades of the sky as the sun moves from sunrise to sunset. Throughout the seasons, they tell us a story about the subtle changes in light, shadow and the surrounding environmental ambience.
Echoing the theme of nature-centric learning embedded in the renovation’s design of both the buildings and courtyard, BLOOM reinforces this idea as a sculptural connection to nature. As a celebration of nature -- of local flora -- and a reflection of time and season, day and year, BLOOM aims to be an inspirational artwork that sparks students to discover the environment anew.
+ Installed at School Without Walls at Francis Stevens, Washington DC
+ Commissioned by the Washington DC Government, Department of General Services, Percent for Art
Engineering: Shahab Torabian and Eric R. Ober, SGH
Fabrication: Sultz
Installation: Majer Metal Works
Thanks to Sandy Bellamy, Principal Young, Thomas Dixon of MCN Build and the staff of School Without Walls at Francis Stevens
​​BLOOM is a site-specific installation designed for the school’s garden courtyard, a series of twelve nature-inspired monuments. These vibrant-colored steel posts soar towards the sky in a celebration of the outdoors, coated in bright colors and gradients drawn directly from local flora native to the Washington DC ecoregion. The twelve number of sculptural pillars stand in reference to the twelve months of the year -- an ode to nature, but also to the passage of time over the course of each day of the year.
Like large viewing scopes, the tubes are sheared at the top and are each capped with a polished stainless steel plate with mirror finish, reflecting back the ever-changing hues and tones of the sky above. The mirrored tops of each steel tube post are a continuous reflection of the passage of time. Throughout the day, they reflect back the ephemeral shades of the sky as the sun moves from sunrise to sunset. Throughout the seasons, they tell us a story about the subtle changes in light, shadow and the surrounding environmental ambience.
Echoing the theme of nature-centric learning embedded in the renovation’s design of both the buildings and courtyard, BLOOM reinforces this idea as a sculptural connection to nature. As a celebration of nature -- of local flora -- and a reflection of time and season, day and year, BLOOM aims to be an inspirational artwork that sparks students to discover the environment anew.
