the 8 diaphanes are individual assemblage/drawings of casting paper embedded with electronics, each measuring approximately 9″x11″. featured in our august, 2011 solo exhibit, of light like intervals, each diaphane was made specifically for installation in the porch windows of the virginia weston besse gallery on martha’s vineyard.
inspired by the slowly changing, ambient natural light of the westward facing space, the architecturally transitional nature of the porch, and the color and textures of its wooden interior, we developed this project with the combining of indirect sunlight and electric light (LEDs), and the qualities of transition, in mind.
the electronics consist of a small micro-controller, modulating a single, tiny LED.
each micro-controller is programmed individually to persistently and slowly change the brightness of its LED in a process analogous the gentle shifts in ambient light of the space as sunlight is filtered through the lush foliage of a garden in front of it.
looking at a diaphane, one is aware of change occurring on its surface, resulting in different views of the work’s subtle and complex topography, but the specifics of what in fact has changed are not always clear. the paper composition of each diaphane varies in thickness, from the opaque to the see-through, permitting views of the outside to be integrated into each work.
we began making site visits to prepare for our show in early may, prior to the bloom of spring, and were captivated by the island’s natural light, and the intricate, twisting branches, and horizontality of its trees and brush. in subsequent visits we noted the forms created by the lines of branches interlaced with increasing foliage. while we never intended to portray these forms in our work the affinity between the island’s landscape and our compositions and mark marking is clear, and in the context of these works in this location, formative.
to see the entire flickr set, please go here.