Beginning with demarcation of area into squares and *'Golden Rectangles' by staked contractor's ribbon (of 3-4 fluorescent colors); *establishing central square, adjoining squares and rectangles. *Central square also defined by 4 staked dowels through 12"dia mirrors in 36"dia circles white stone on ground; dowels topped with prisms (ideally with nearby misting water sprinklers to create 'rain-bowing' effects in daylight.
Throughout the day, 6'dia helium-filled weather balloons are lifting one cube after another; 4 to each of hinged (8' X 1" X 1") cube edges which are painted fluorescent colors; with mirroring-mylar on insides. White 'polypropylene' line acting as tethers and black poly-line leading to suspending balloons lifting cubes. *Central cube is "Hypercube" (3D model of 4D shadow-projection) made of glitter-coated dowel (smaller cube within 8'sq cube).
Eventually, by dusk, a white-costumed dancer arrives to work on a hydraulic 'scissor-lift' deck. *Lift rises, at dark, after dancer begins simple moves; finally extended arms with fluorescent ('black lights') 'circle-lines' - then, 'U lines' lamps.
Photos: Jay Hueser
[ “Cube Marionette” Concept: hinge & shaping by A.R.C.’s Jay Hueser; origin 1977]
After dark; balloon-suspended cubes, moving with air currents and tugging spectator/technicians, are illuminated by follow-spotlights (effects heightened with synthetic smoke and flares demarking ground drawings) and slide projection on central balloons. Evening sound (of tubular chimes, also "divine proportion"; electronic tapes of running water and Bach excerpts); and, live reading of "structural poetry" including description of mathematical principles involved. A space-modulating "dancer"/figure (costumed in white with 'black-light' fluorescents, 'circle-lines' and 16" - 36" tubes, moves and gestures simply below central "Hypercube" on an elevating hydraulically-rising platform/box dramatizing sense of human scale involved in project and activating phosphorescent qualities available in ground ribbons and cube struts with ultraviolet light. These theatrical aspects of musical/poetic dancing geometry reify the dimensions of 1) horizontal tempo, 2) the vertical quality of volume, 3) depth of resonance/ sound and 4) the breadth of duration. Event/Setting an opportunity to observe transient beauty of experiential chaos and harmony with reason, perception and wonder.
Next, cycles/’choppers' start driving counter-clockwise, with searchlights following. Spectators will be inside park and/or outside the walk. [Description of event & credits of companies/persons available as hand-out-flyers and posters.]
A Proposal for Public, Celebratory and Participatory Art Event
Approach is to analyze, plan and design; four basic types of structural/aesthetic systems:
1.) stochastic, 2.) proportional,
3.) programmatic, 4.) dynamic.
Site: an historic midtown city park (over underground parking) of plantings, trees, pedestrian areas, Barney Allis Plaza (N of [Art Deco] Convention Center/S of Historic Folly).
A day-long and night-time project; with some preparation the day-before.
Throughout the day, 6'dia helium-filled weather balloons are lifting one cube after another; 4 to each of hinged (8' X 1" X 1") cube edges which are painted fluorescent colors; with mirroring-mylar on insides. White 'polypropylene' line acting as tethers and black poly-line leading to suspending balloons lifting cubes. *Central cube is "Hypercube" (3D model of 4D shadow-project.
Searchlights sweep the sidewalk area and Square, of B A Plaza, across four Custom "Choppers" slowly driving clockwise on sidewalk around SQ. Each "Chopper" has their owner/customizer-rider wearing A.R.C. T-shirts and chrome helmets. Each cycle with 'buggy-whip' antenna behind the saddle with an original A.R.C. artwork ('flag-silk') banner mounted - fluttering behind.
*Asterisks indicate reference to drawings and/or explanation
[“Cube Marionette ” Concept: hinge & shaping by A.R.C.‘s Jay Hueser; origin 1977]
*4 carousel slide projectors with zoom lenses. (some extra lamps) and extension cable outlet boxes. (donated by Audio Video Co.) Slides created based City's Cultural & Economic Statistics; abstract pie charts, bar graphs, etc.. for each carousel/each projector.
*Linear cubes are structurally unstable, unlike stable triangles - hence: parallelogramic/lozenge-like cuboids can result through line manipulation. Potential for 2D "Necker Cubes" and "impossible cube"; possible illusions 3D/4D; from various viewing angles of spectators below, particularly, at night.
*Thrusting up from ground below, at four corners of 13' Major Square (area below, later) and 8' high, centered in 12"dia 1/4" mirror (with holes for dowel). Mirrors centered in 36" diameter circles of white quartz 2" stones. Atop each dowel: a 3" diameter wooden circle on which is mounted a 'classic Newtonian prism' of cast acrylic.
*Naturally, with sunlight, these will cast refracted beams of spectral-colors. This can be enhanced for spectators with fine water misting from simple hose-fed circular sprinklers to center of central ribboned-square. "Rainbows-in-Curved-Air" can then be observed from many vantage points.