Projections

",~RTISTS' STATEMENTS PROJECTIONS Terry Rosenberg (artist), 1114Jones Street #12, Omaha, NE 68102, U.S.A. Terry Rosenberg's artwork waspresented at theconference "TheInspiration ofAstronomicalPhenomena , » VillaMondo Migliore, Rocca di Papa, Italy, 27June-2 July 1994. Theartist hasprovidedthis Artist's Statement toaccompany these published proceedings. Since 1981, I have been scoring and' bending thin sheet material into threedimensional lightweight structures, creating a range of shapes with a variety of materials. In 1989, I began a body ofwork titled Projections, introducing transparent sheet material such as colored plastic, woven metal cloth and perforated metal to expose the relationships of overlapping planes within a given structure . I wanted to use sculptural materials to create an ephemeral space that allows one to see through an object and thus to see its complex structure and the shapes oflight emanating directly from that structure and its projections. Each Projection is a mobile that uses speciallighting to project its image onto an adjacent wall to form an architectural model and a moving picture of the inner workings of that model. The Projections fall into three groups, according to the materials used: (1) perforated metal that creates moire patterns of light from overlapping holes in the planar surface; (2) colored plastic, where patterns of color overlap (Color Plate A No.1) and (3) photographic transparencies that bend photographic images into abstraction. The Untitled Projection (Fig. 1) and a video of projection installations, shown at the "Inspiration ofAstronomical Phenomena" conference, come from this body ofwork. The astronomical inspiration for these works first occurred after its creation and has continued to grow over time. When the first sculptures were installed and began to revolve , the obvious likeness to planets or swirling galaxies came to mind. I began to envision cosmic similarities between inner and outer space; the dynamic structure/surface of plants, animals and galaxies; the big bang theory and the warping of space. I imagined the lines spiraling outward from a central vortex or nucleus to infinitely map a continuous, open, spatial correspondent to the nucleus. The moire patterns of the metal sculptures represent quantities or dynamic patterns oflight in direct relation to the proximity of the overlapping planes. These moire patterns began to interest me because of their optical effects -dynamics of light created by overlapping planes that exist in the space between planes. The colored plastic and photographic projections act in a similar manner to define a space between planes. My mind's eye travels to a space between planes, between dimensions. I think of prisms and I imagine them with curves. I think of holograms and lasers, then return to my sculpture and expand its inherent surface and lighting limitations to achieve new effects. Again, I am drawn to theoretical space and the curiFig . 1. Terry Rosenberg, Untitled p,yyectiun, perforated aluminum, 1993. (Photo: John Bigelow Taylor) e 19961SAST LEONARDO, Vol. 29, No.2, pp. 155-157, 1996 155 osity it evokes. A similar curiosity about spatial relationships will compel me to continue this kind of work. I have further explored this structuring method with 16 paper models in my recent book, Generatrix [1]. Generatrix explores the movement between two and three dimensions of a given pattern, with an emphasis on curves. A single sheet of material will bend along curved score lines that act as a hinge or joint while adding structural strength to the sheet when it is stabilized in a three-dimensional position. This method is a means to produce lightweight curvilinear structures, where each sheet acts as both skin and structure. Reference l. Terry Rosenberg, Generatrix (Omaha, NE: UNO Editions, University of Nebraska, 1995). As ABOVE, So BELOW: THE MANIFESTATION OF THE UNIVERSE AS A MIRROR TO CONSCIOUSNESS Donald Sanders (artist), 51 West 81st Street, Apt. 5:J, New York, NY 10024, U.S.A. Donald Sanders's artuiort: was presented at the conference "The Inspiration ofAstronomical Phenomena, " Villa Mondo Migliore, Rocca di Papa, Italy, 27June-2July 1994. The artist has provided this Artists Statement to accompany thesepublished proceedings. My paintings were essentially inspired by the work of the seventeenth-century philosopher Robert Fludd, but they ultimately came to represent a great deal more: the integration of the universe and its sciences with...