CANOPY TOWER
Austin Contemporary Museum, Austin, TX.
2015
-
A trail beside Lake Austin leads to Canopy Tower through a densely-wooded section of the grounds. The upper circular beam is cut into three separate sections, each anchored to a different tree. When strong winds move the canopy of the grove of trees, each of the supporting beam sections moves independently and contorts the overall shape of the sculpture suspended below. When moving, the upper portion of the sculpture contorts from a cylinder toward an oval shape, while the lower section remains static. Viewers can stand safely inside the base of the sculpture, and experience the dynamically framed view of the canopy above. Hollow steel nipples inset into the sculpture’s panels house and protect the rope where each of the panels meet one another. During heavy winds these hundreds of points of connection clank together loudly.
IMAGES
Canopy Tower, Laguna Gloria Sculpture Park, Austin Contemporary Museum, Austin, TX, 2015. Ipe hardwood, 16’ h x 15’ dia., suspended 4’ above ground. Rope runs horizontally and vertically through the interior of each of the sculpture’s carved panels and connects to steel supports 40’ above the ground. A 24’diameter rolled beam anchored to three trees supports the sculpture.
CANOPY TOWER
Austin Contemporary Museum, Austin, TX.
2015
A trail beside Lake Austin leads to Canopy Tower through a densely-wooded section of the grounds. The upper circular beam is cut into three separate sections, each anchored to a different tree. When strong winds move the canopy of the grove of trees, each of the supporting beam sections moves independently and contorts the overall shape of the sculpture suspended below. When moving, the upper portion of the sculpture contorts from a cylinder toward an oval shape, while the lower section remains static. Viewers can stand safely inside the base of the sculpture, and experience the dynamically framed view of the canopy above. Hollow steel nipples inset into the sculpture’s panels house and protect the rope where each of the panels meet one another. During heavy winds these hundreds of points of connection clank together loudly.
IMAGES
Canopy Tower, Laguna Gloria Sculpture Park, Austin Contemporary Museum, Austin, TX, 2015. Ipe hardwood, 16’ h x 15’ dia., suspended 4’ above ground. Rope runs horizontally and vertically through the interior of each of the sculpture’s carved panels and connects to steel supports 40’ above the ground. A 24’diameter rolled beam anchored to three trees supports the sculpture.
Three structural steel arcs were secured to three trees, each with a pair of through-bolts fastening steel to trunk. Over time each tree will grow over the ends of these bolts, eventually encasing them entirely within the trees. Hanging the panels from the structural arcs first involved corseting them together horizontally with ratcheting straps. Flutes along one vertical axis are removable to facilitate threading supporting rope through and terminating the ends of each row. The sculpture weighs 4000 pounds including the structural steel supports. Engineering for Canopy Tower by Rick Hayden, Leap Structures (TX). Consulting Arborist: Don Gardner (TX). Curator: Rachel Adams (NY).
PROCESS