Penumbra

In beautiful wood relief, with mirrored lakes, Nathan Braunfeld’s sculpture depicts a cross section of the Sierra Nevada at a scale of 1600:1. A series of mechanized light bulbs travel above at a speed equally calculated to the rotation of the earth. Nathan states that “In this way, one is provided a rough model of the stellar mechanics that govern our world.”

Streetside Artscape:
 Nathan Braunfeld  / Penumbra

Woolworth Windows #4 & 5, 11th & Broadway
September 2 – December 20, 2013

Light travels over the surface of intricately cut layers of wood, enhancing the topography with moving shadows.

 

From Nathan Braunfeld’s artist statement, “A driving force in my work is an effort to illuminate the ways in which we understand our location in space, with particular attention given to alignments (both tangible and perceived) introduced upon natural landscapes. Our sight lines are often obstructed, distorted, hidden; but I am driven by a curiosity about the possibility of a more complete understanding of the world we inhabit- a visual omniscience.”

“Penumbra” a finely crafted, automated, and mesmerizing sculpture by Nathan Braunfeld. *Photo by Nathan Braunfeld

“Penumbra- A partial shadow, as in an eclipse, between regions of complete shadow and complete illumination. This piece takes a cross section of the Sierra Nevada running from Sequoia National Park in the west, to Death Valley in the east, at a scale of 1600:1. The lights’ speed is equally calculated to the rotation of the earth. In this way, one is provided a rough model of the stellar mechanics that govern our world.”

For more on the work of Nathan Braunfeld visit his website