Exhibition Location: MadArt Studio, Seattle, WA

Open Studio & Exhibition Period: January 9-March 23, 2019

Circum-ambience is a large-scale installation exhibited. It explores the creation of space/forms that alter perception and experience of natural light conditions of the existing built environment. Three spherical sculptures, Earthen Light, Debris, and Wild Flower, consider the light, scale, and atmosphere of the gallery’s physical space. Natural light conditions at the gallery influenced the sizes, material choices, methods of design and assembly, and location of each sphere.

Earthen Light, the largest sphere, is an inhabitable structure inspired by indirect natural light reflecting on the earthen walls of Japanese houses to create an ambient atmosphere. A 1-3/16” high x 12” deep slit brings light inside indirectly to create a space filled with soft ambient light. The wall of Earthen Light was made with local soil applied to a wood frame using traditional Japanese methods of earthen wall construction that have been used for over 1,300 years. With support from the Japan Foundation Tokyo, three plaster artisans came from Japan to apply the final earthen wall layer inside Earthen Light, which was integral to producing the serenity of the ambient space.

Debris was constructed from demolition materials. Most of the materials came from a late 19th century house in Seattle. The process of making Debris was incremental. Careful attention was given to how to put pieces together. This is an object constructed from parts instead of designing the whole at the beginning.

Wild Flower is made entirely of brightly colored, layered, and bound hexagonal wire. When applied in mass, these hexagonal grids lose their singularity and create a perceived visual vibration. Suspending Wild Flower from the building’s skylight provides an opportunity for visitors to experience it from varied perspectives. Depending on the viewer’s vantage point, Wild Flower appears to be an opaque solid sphere or a transparent sphere.

Generous support for this exhibition was provided by MadArt Studio, and the Japan Foundation (Tokyo). Special thanks to Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture Engineering Shop at Washington State University, the School of Design and Construction at Washington State University, Artist Trust, and Sakujigumi in Kyoto, Japan.

Please visit MadArt website and their Exhibition Catalog.

https://madartseattle.com/exhibits/circum%c2%b7ambience

https://madartseattle.com/wp-content/uploads/Miyasaka_Exhibition-Catalog_Final_website-PDF.pdf

Photos by James Harnois