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2014, Aluminum, 18’ x 92’ x 12" -
View of Portland Oregon's Fire and Rescue Station 21 from the Madison Street pier -
Portland Oregon's Fire Station 21 on the east bank of the Willamette River from the historic Hawthorne Bridge. -
Will Fulton assembles blades prior to installation -
Iron worker prepares to lift section of the rippling wall. -
Installing the first panel of the artwork with a crane for Fire Station 21 Portland Oregon. -
Installed in the meeting room of Fire Station 21 and carved from a slab of live edge Elm, with the help of Celeski Studios, this carving utilizes the same model used for the facade of the Firehouse -
Downtown Portland Oregon, the Willamette River, and the historic Hawthorne Bridge set the scene for the relief of the Ripples in Elm carving. -
This dock gate at Fire Station 21 also has the ripple effect and secures the Fire Boat house
Water is the antidote for fire, but also the adversary at this station, which is located right on the Willamette in the rainy city of Portland Oregon, and is also the river rescue station. The project is a large sculpture of ripples on water made form large the aluminum blades 3/8” thick and 12 ” wide water-jet cut to resemble sine waves but when seen at an angle reveal themselves to be a sculpture of ripples. Due to the reflectivity of the aluminum and its ability to take on the ambient color of the light the installation will have visibly kinetic effect that will change as the viewer moves around the piece. As one moves up and down the river, and as the sun rises moves over the piece and sets and light changes with the seasons the sculpture appears to change.
From inside the building and on the catwalk it provides and unmatched feeling of openness while providing privacy screening from the most vulnerable viewpoints. This was a project that I worked closely with the Portland Fire Department and Whelton Architects on as a functional and integrated piece of architectural artwork.
Project Partners: RACC, Portland Fire Department and Whelton Architecture