Vertices
A Studio SM creation
(Thom Sokoloski + Jenny-Anne McCowan)
Concept commissioning by the Luminato Festival of Arts & Creativity, Toronto, Canada.
What are Vertices?
- They are 'organic' forms which have emerged out of the square. One might say to reclaim their space, yet tethered to prevent a complete reclamation.
- They have the sensation of having newly arrived to the square, but also impart the sense of being very timely, temporal beacons of our history and memories, looking to us for acknowledgement and inspiration.
- During the day, the Vertices sleep. In the evening they awaken through a luminescent interaction with the public.
- They are a variation on the theme of tension in the resignation and resistance of sculpted organic form in an architectural space.
Where are the Vertices?
- They are a grouping of up to 12 elongated triangular pyramids, one to six stories in height. They will be placed in a visual field integrating the tops of buildings surrounding Dundas Square (D-SQ) and the square itself.
What is the intended visual sensation?
- They can be recognized from the approach and the leaving of D-SQ when driving, cycling or walking on Yonge, Dundas and Victoria Streets.
- To create an alternate vision or experience of being in D-SQ than what is normally understood by positioning a monumental resurfacing of nature and our restraint of it.
- When the public connects with the Vertices, their luminosity, their life, is awakened. An interactive relationship between space, form, light and the human body is set into motion. When all these elements combine and reach harmony, inspiration arrives for The Vertices and everyone participating.
- They are spatial structures, closer to tensegrity structures, which consist of cables and compression bars only and/or constructions with pliable skeletal structures, similar to that of a radio tower. These structures can be extremely flexible and light, and therefore fashioned in very curious ways to give organic presence to the Vertices. (The word "tensegrity", is Buckminister Fuller's contraction of the words "Tensile" and "Integrity", suggesting that integrity or, as we would say, stability of the structure comes from tension.)
- They are pliable structures which must be tethered in their placement in the space to depict the tension of their constraint.
- The public should be able to sense a subtle movement in the Vertices, as a life-form, which would come from the play of light and wind. How much movement will depend on the final tensegrity and lighting system.
- The Vertices are wrapped in a canvas and/or canvas-like textile that works with daylight and enhances their nocturnal luminosity in regards to collateral light.
- Their sensors respond to public movement and behaviour. The luminosity of the Vertices is at its maximum when the public responds in complete harmony. This may happen spontaneously during programming and will happen deliberately during organized public happenings and mass routines.
- They also detect natural movements around D-SQ - the public will notice that their actions effect the luminosity of the Vertices in particular places within D-SQ and begin to interact with more rigour and virtuosity.
- The heightening of the Vertices’ luminescent variations are directly proportionate to the inspired interaction created by the public.