series > Fair-weather forces
Fair-weather forces is a series of architectonic interventions which suggest a reciprocal relationship between human behaviour and natural phenomena.
Fai
r-weather
forces (water level)
date> 2008
medium> Stainless-steel stanchions with electronic and mechanical systems moving velvet ropes up and down in relation to changing water level, according to data streamed over the Internet by ultrasonic sensor installed at a nearby body of water. Installation view at Catriona Jeffries Gallery, Vancouver, with water level from False Creek
description>
A row of up to six stainless-steel posts linked by velvet ropes recalls institutional and social crowd-control situations. The attachment points for the ropes automatically slide up and down the stanchions in direct relationship to the current water level in a nearby body of water (transmitted in real time over the Internet from a custom-built sensor). The situation thus suggests that passage/admission is permitted, restrained or directed according to the changing condition of the tide, water level and waves, hinting at relationships between phenomena that might otherwise seem disparate: aspects of social sorting evoked by the barriers (admission, exclusion, approval, class distinctions); economic and political conditions such as trade, migration and tourism that affecting the region; and the vagaries of the natural environment.
Fair-weather forces: wind speed
date> 2002
medium> found metal turnstile with added electric motor and electronic circuits, anemometer
dimensions>
turnstile 93.5 cm high x 106 cm diameter
description>
A standard metal turnstile is placed, as usual, near the threshold of
a room. It rotates automatically on its own, in direct relation to the
exterior wind speed as measured by the anemometer. In this way it suggests
that it could be regulating the flow of people into the space according
to the weather outside: calm days encourage lazy movements and windy
conditions brisk ones.
credits> technical assistance and circuit design by Gordon Hicks
exhibition history>
2002 Catriona Jeffries; 2002 Power Plant (travelling 2003 to Bellevue
Museum); 2004 Biennale nationale de sculpture contemporain; 2004 Sobey
Art Award exhibition; 2005 Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal
selected bibliography>
Melanie
O'Brian essay for Catriona Jeffries Gallery exhibition, 2002
Robin
Laurence review of Catriona Jeffries exhibition (148 Kb PDF), 2002
Xandra
Eden essay for Power Plant exhibition catalogue, 2002
Fair-weather forces (sun:light)
date> 2005
medium> intervention with sensors, microcontroller and electronic circuits, existing lighting system, and natural conditions
dimensions> variable
description>
The existing interior lights of a space are controlled, in real time,
in direct relation to changing exterior light levels, effectively defeating
the purpose of artificial lighting.
credits> circuit design and technical coordination by Gordon Hicks
exhibition history>
2005 Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal
bibliography>
Gilles Godmer, "L'art qui résiste / Art That Resists",
essay in L'envers des apparences exhibition catalogue (Montreal:
Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, 2005)
