38° 53′ N / 77° 02′ W ~ 45° 24′ N / 75° 43′ W, 1999
laminated ash and cherry, sailcloth, string, cable
6 individual pieces, average dimensions: 130″ x 60″ x 60″
permanent installation: U.S. Embassy, Ottawa, Canada
38° 53′ N / 77° 02′ W ~ 45° 24′ N / 75° 43′ W is a site specific installation in the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada. The title indicates the latitude and longitude coordinates of Washington D.C. and Ottawa.
The Skidmore, Owings and Merril designed Embassy building is organized along two lofty atrium spaces which run the length of the plan. The installation consists of six individual sculptural forms hanging at varying elevations throughout these spaces. Each hangs from a single stainless steel cable, allowing the sculptures to rotate freely with the building’s interior air currents. The sculptures are a hybrid of kite and sailing vessel forms. Playing off one another, they elucidate subtle varaitions of light and air movement within the space.
The photographs included here depict the individual structures. No installation photographs are shown because Embassy policy prohibits the distribution of interior photographs of the building.