Austin TX · with TwoPlus Collaborative · 2017
Our installation at Waller Creek, “Blindspot,” consists of vertical mirrors and projections which superimpose multi-layered visual information on the walls of the creek bed. Each 8-foot tall mirror is fixed at a specific angle decided on site to achieve the desired reflections. A projector is located on each of the creek’s adjacent walls, emitting videos taken while biking around Austin toward the mirrors, the path and the creek. Visitors become part of the installation, adding to the palimpsest of reflections by simply walking through.
In developing our proposal, we wanted to highlight Waller Creek Conservancy’s emphasis on making the creek a more pedestrian-oriented place. As bicycle commuters, we often see Austin from the perspective of a bike saddle and we wanted to bring that frame of reference to our installation. Biking around the city, a cyclist must constantly assume she is invisible, hidden in the driver’s blind spot. Similarly, Austinites pass over Waller Creek on a daily basis without noticing it. “Blindspot” superimposes the bicycle on the creek bed, creating a space within the city where visitors are invited to consider the potential of both. Our intention is that this installation will shed light on aspects of Austin life that are often overlooked and initiate a dialogue about the importance of investing in the urban, people-oriented spaces of Waller Creek.
PROCESS
DESIGN: The design of “Blindspot” began with the material quality of reflectivity. Through sketching and rendering, we established a rhythm of vertical reflective columns scattered in the creek bed, creating an occupiable space at the moment where the path crosses the creek. We worked with the Waller Creek Conservancy and the City of Austin Watershed Department to refine our initial concept and work within the constraints of the creek.
FABRICATION: The mock-up phase of this project was lengthy - we made several plywood mockups of the triangles to establish height, width, and variation of the different columns. Because we could not attach to the creek bed itself, we also mocked up the tripod base strategy out of wood before moving into final fabrication. The final stainless steel shapes were pre-bent by the manufacturer and assembled by TwoPlus. We collaborated with Adam Tablemaker (adamtablemaker.com) to design and fabricate the steel base that supports each cantilevered column.
