Abstract Paper Lanterns
Design, Fabrication, & Installation
2024
Pittsburgh, PA
Light Programming: Projectile Objects

In January of 2024, I ran the book sale for Architect and co-founder of Atelier Bow-Wow, Momoyo Kaijima, at the CMOA as part of Carnegie Mellon Architecture’s public programming. Unpacking Kaijima’s books, I was captivated by the paper they were wrapped in. I’ll admit that I’m easily enchanted by even the simplest materials, but this paper held its wrinkles beautifully and felt special to the touch. 

I am very interested in creating adaptable lighting to accommodate sensory sensitivities as well as illuminating sculptures. Combining these two ideas, I have been making small experimental sculptures, but this paper gave me enough material to create three cohesive lanterns. The lantern skeleton was constructed with two different gauges of wire. The paper was then folded around the wire form and glued together. Each seam was folded under and aligned to another seam to maintain cleanliness within the somewhat distressed sculpture.

I first illuminated the sculptures with bluetooth lightbulbs that were temperature adjustable from a phone app, but I wanted to animate them so they could emulate a pulse. My interest in autonomic processes and fostering visceral safety led me to this idea of a pulse or gentle heartbeat. I reached out to my friend and colleague Cornelius Henke of Projectile Objects to collaborate on programming three corresponding LED light strips that illuminated the lanterns and connected them with a traveling pulse of light. 

I installed the illuminated sculptures in the window of a small storefront I was renovating and it was a joy to see folks from the neighborhood pause in front of the previously vacant space. It was particularly special to notice how long people would stop in front of the window and how they would orient their entire bodies to face the sculptures. In our hustle and bustle culture, these moments of stillness are precious. 

I’m working on creating more illuminated sculptures and I’m exploring sewing paper panels together to create a textile-like form and to elevate the care and craft with which each lantern is made. I particularly love these pieces because they now live in my home, illuminating the primary room in my apartment, and I have a growing list of friends requesting similar gentle giant sculptures for their homes. I think these small shifts towards building better homes for our bodies is the kind of actionable and “care-full” (full of care) art that excites me.