Interesting Public Art Displays

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          This video features 5 public art installations from all over the United States. These monuments serve to display an art piece for the entire public to enjoy and all have rich history with a story behind the process. These public displays provide something to identify the location with and each has its own function: entertainment, interactivity, commemoration, productivity, etc. I will talk about numbers #4 and #1 since they best exemplify computing and the arts.

          Number #4 are the Sunflowers in the "Electric Garden" at Austin, Texas. This garden features a multitude of 18-24 ft. photovoltaic sunflower sculptures that utilizes power from the sun during the day to charge itself to light up at night. These sunflower sculptures provide shade during the day and light for nighttime. It's really cool how these sunflowers look and perform like their real counterpart, simulating photosynthesis and then using that natural energy to efficiently illuminate pathways in the dark. I really like the idea of this, it uses plant life as an inspiration to be more eco-friendly. They aren't gaudy looking or ostentations, but rather curious and interesting, something that someone exercising will look up at fully appreciate.

          Number #1 is the Crown Fountain in Chicago, Illinois. This fountain features two interactive video sculptures in the form of 50 ft. black structures facing each other across a wading-pool type area. These towers display huge images of random locals who pucker up and actual water spews from their mouth into the pool; each face appears on the sculpture for 5 minutes. The artist claims the photos are supposed to represent modern gargoyles. This art display is great because it attracts and involves people for it to work, it also functions as a way to cool off on a hot day. If I lived in or ever visited Chicago, I definitely would like to see this fountain in person. It would be a nice place to hang out with friends on a warm day and hopefully maybe see one of their faces on the big screen.

          Both these art installations use computing as a function in the process of creating art. The sunflowers are big and pretty but also serves a purpose to benefit passerbys like joggers. The Crown Fountain using computing to create an interactive art piece that would make most people stop for a while to admire the presence and functionality of the piece.