Artists: Caitlind r.c. Brown, Wayne Garrett
Photography: Caitlind Brown
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
CLOUD is a large-scale interactive sculpture created from 6,000 light bulbs, new and burnt-out. Constructed by Calgary-based artist Caitlind r.c. Brown and collaborator Wayne Garrett, CLOUD was on public display for one-night-only during Calgary’s first Nuit Blanche Festival. As part of the process of creating the sculpture, Brown collected burnt out incandescent light bulbs from local households, businesses, museums, and eco stations.
Photo Credit: Caitlind Brown
The idea was to create an informal collaboration between the community and the artists, reduce costs, and experiment with the potential of items post-use. The steel substructure of the sculpture was covered in a skin of incandescent light bulbs (new and burnt out), and rear-lit from within by 250 compact fluorescent bulbs, pulling a total power of approximately 20 amps (the equivalent of two household outlets).
Each of these bulbs was attached to a pull-string, allowing viewers to control the illumination of the structure. Audiences interacted with CLOUD by initiating impromptu collaborations and working as a collective to turn the entire sculpture on and off.
Photo Credit: Caitlind Brown
Photo Credit: Caitlind Brown
Photo Credit: Caitlind Brown
Wayne Garrett, welding the steel substructure of CLOUD.
Photo Credit: Caitlind Brown
Caitlind Brown testing lights inside an early version of CLOUD.
Photo Credit: Caitlind Brown
Volunteers attaching bulbs to CLOUD.
Photo Credit: Caitlind Brown
Moving the CLOUD on a flatbed truck.
Photo Credit: Caitlind Brown
Lowering the CLOUD onto its platform.
Photo Credit: Caitlind Brown
Volunteer Court Brinsmead creating light bulbs skins onsite for the structure.
Photo Credit: Caitlind Brown
Steel substructure of CLOUD pre-light bulbs.
Photo Credit: Caitlind Brown
CLOUD, almost completed.
Photo Credit: Caitlind Brown
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