This autumn brought magic to Evans Way Park in Boston, Massachusetts, where Shepley Bulfinch’s art installation Sparkle+Chime filled the trees with patterns of light and sound.
Hundreds of small suspended mirrored discs and lightweight metal rings have been suspended from selected trees in the park. Sunlight refracting off the discs creates shifting patterns of light across the trees and ground, with the gentle tinkling of chimes as the rings play against the discs in the breeze. Discreet spotlighting extends the visual effect as dusk dissolves into night.
This fall, the Fenway Alliance invited Shepley Bulfinch to create an installation in Evans Way Park through the Public by Design initiative. Sparkle+Chime, designed by Shepley Bulfinch architect Jean Kim, won an internal firm competition, juried by local architects, educators, and community stakeholders.
The making of Sparkle & Chime required an all-out office effort, and drew on the diverse experience – from jewelry making to rock climbing – of the core production team. Shepley staff at all levels made over 3600 sparkles by sandwiching a fishing line hanger held by a crimp bead between two small mirrors glued together. A parachute cord and rock climbing knot system suspended the installation from the trees. Shepley’s archivist provided the chimes – metal discs from old office hard drives he had disassembled to find out how they worked.
Lam Partners Inc. donated lighting design services and Phillips Lighting donated lighting products.
Link to Vimeo video: http://vimeo.com/114768789
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