Flying Like a God
We live in a world of magic and privilege, with resources and plenty, from blankets to medicine to plane flights. We routinely fly through the air like Greek gods, sitting in chairs in the sky. Somehow, this incredible feat has become ordinary, safe, and average. We relax at thirty thousand feet while sipping a coffee and watching Seinfeld reruns. We lose sight of moving at six hundred miles per hour, crossing continents in hours that took our ancestors generations to transverse.
Imagine the Greek Gods taking an average flight across the country. Being gods, they would not need a plane, but they might need to conform to some airspace regulations. Zeus has to wait to use the bathroom. Poseidon is pissed TSA took his trident, and Athena can’t get off TikTok.
In this sculpture, the figures will be classical reproductions of Greek gods crudely reconfigured into seated positions. They will float suspended from a rig with a counterbalance, endlessly traveling through the room. Each figure will be articulated to simulate basic movements like sipping coffee or reading a book. The movements will be animated by balanced mechanisms connected to sails reacting to natural air currents found in the room along their journey.
In the final piece, all the figures will be unique and individual, as diverse and inclusive as possible.
There are many gods in our collective human history. I would like to make this sculpture as inclusive as possible, including different historical god figures. I prefer to use gods who are in emeritus and not actively being worshiped while being as inclusive and respectful as possible. I chose Greek gods for this illustration as they are ubiquitous and have mostly retired from their lofty positions in our public consciousness. I would be excited to work with others to achieve a group that brings joy to the piece and the people viewing it. There is also the possibility of making the sculpture without referencing gods.
The found statues will be modified by removing material. They will not be remodeled. They will be cut, and joints will be added. We are adding to history, not recreating it.
I foresee semi-yearly maintenance. This would be for cleaning, inspection, and possible adjustment to the balance mechanisms.
The piece will be designed with low maintenance in mind. One simple, very high-quality motor will be used for the center rotation. This big brand-name device will be easily changed out if required, and a spare will be provided. The mechanism for articulating the arms will be very simple, using single-pivot balances. They will be designed with a hundred-year lifetime in mind. They will all be thoroughly tested before installation, and complete documentation will be provided. The animations can be removed from the piece to simplify the maintenance if desired.