ARCHIVE

Informed by Tony Martin's basic interest in joining natural principles and phenomena with human choice-making in his work of the 1960's and '70's, which included an early light pendulum; Light Pendulum is a new work that is controlled by site-specific environmental conditions including light, sound, and motion.

Light Pendulum functions both as a stand-alone kinetic sculpture as well as a temporal instrument used in a performance-based setting. Light Pendulum is comprised of a six-inch diameter glass pendulum suspended with nylon line from the installation space ceiling. An LED pin-light is installed at the top of the line. The pendulum’s motion is caused by the earth’s rotation and conditions of air movement. A large parabolic mirrored dish is installed directly underneath the pendulum. Receptors and sensors are positioned at the center of the dish. These receptors function as photocells, photovoltaic cells, and other signal and current producing and regulating components.

Information from these components is determined by the amount and direction of light impinging on the large mirrored dish, reflecting light on the pendulum, which is constantly in motion (however small the movement) and also by of the proximity, movement, and placement of the viewer, or viewers.

The changing signals and resistor circuits from the large dish area regulate three channels of audio/visual content. Installed in a gallery space, the three-channels are predetermined. In a live performance setting each channel becomes part of a dynamic instrument.