Client: Green Bay Public Arts Commission

Overview

“Salva-Jelly,” is a permanent public art sculptural installation constructed from a mix of recycled, reused, and new materials. The larger-than-life jellyfish and midwestern industrial-inspired creation will offer the impression that it is floating within the vacant green space. 25% of the steel has been reused from the drops of the “Together Feathers” sculpture I created for the Uptown Crossing pocket park on 56th and North in Milwaukee. The plastic bottles were collected from our studio mates and neighbors at the House of RAD (Resident Artist Doers).

Goals

The underpinning of most of the work I create is based on the idea that humans know not what they do, how what they create long outlasts them. More specifically the exploration of the machines/robots created and the relationships between them and their creators and their surrounding natural environment. The “Salva-Jelly,” is no exception, an evolved version of a natural jelly this creature now collects plastic bottles for its bioluminescence. “Salva-Jelly,” is a permanent public art sculptural installation constructed from a mix of recycled, reused, and new materials. The larger-than-life jellyfish and midwestern industrial-inspired creation will offer the impression that it is floating within the vacant green space. This piece was created to cause people to think differently about the afterlife of our trash. 25% of the steel has been reused from the drops of the “Together Feathers” sculpture I created for the Uptown Crossing pocket park on 56th and North in Milwaukee. The plastic bottles were collected from our studio mates and neighbors at the House of RAD (Resident Artist Doers).

Process

As with all my projects they start with a hand-drawn sketch. Quickly jotting high-level concepts down allows the raw form to be established. The flow and overall rough story can be developed and define rules for the rest of the intricacies. Near the final design, the drawings go into Sketch-Up. There are several things being considered here from final overall height, if building in sections is necessary, to transportation and installation. We had several multidisciplinary artists employed on this project. We had an engineering team focusing on power, lighting, and programming. Our design-build team was focusing on the balance of structural engineering and sculptural elements. In the end, the piece was installed in two major sections and the solar panels on the roof of the surrounding building as not to take away from the piece.

Additional Information

Special thanks: Antishadows Aaron Siegmann Matt Minga Brian Engen Jackson Lahaie Andre St. Louis Kelly West Laura Schley Rough Diamond Jewelry Tim Priebe Credit: Eric Purdue Filmmaker + Photographer + Editor https://www.roosedmedia.com