Coastline (sculpture)
Appearance
Coastline | |
---|---|
Artist | Jim Sanborn |
Year | 1993 |
Type | Outdoor sculpture |
Dimensions | 1.8 m × 9.1 m × 23 m (6 ft × 30 ft × 75 ft) |
Location | Silver Spring, Maryland |
38°59′29″N 77°01′47″W / 38.991452°N 77.029715°W |
Coastline is an outdoor sculpture by American artist Jim Sanborn installed at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration complex in Silver Spring, Maryland.[1]
Coastline attempts to recreate the effect of waves crashing on the Atlantic coast (represented by rough-cut granite).[2] This is achieved with artificial waves generated by a turbine and pneumatic blower underneath the sculpture. The wave frequency is controlled by a remote tide gauge in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, that sends actual wave heights to the sculpture's control mechanism in real time.[3] Sanborn built a quarter-size scale model of the sculpture and consulted with a wave engineer while doing research for the project.[2]
References
- ^ Forgey, Benjamin (November 20, 1993). "A hand, a wave, a winner; Sculptures bring out the best at NOAA complex". Washington Post. Section B, p. 1.
- ^ a b Shaw-Eagle, Joanna (June 1, 1997). "Artist sheds new light on sculpture". Washington Times. Part D, p. 1.
- ^ Dunin, Elonka. "Sanborn's Coastline Sculpture". Retrieved February 8, 2011.