Arizona-based artist Joe O’Connell and Blessing Hancock have conceived Chinook Arc, an interactive lighting installation that provides a unique experience and inviting glow that enhances the Barb Scott Park in Calgary, Canada, for visitors and passers-by.
The form draws inspiration from the historic Beltline Streetcar loop that once encircled the neighborhood, as well as the Chinook arch phenomenon that periodically blankets the sky. These two identifying boundaries inspired the crisp edges and rounded curves seen in the work.
The enclosed space within the sculpture frames the sky and becomes an immersive color environment in the evening. Visitors to Chinook Arc have complete control over the lighting through an optical sensor that projects the movements and colors it sees onto the sculpture.
Visitors can wave their hands, move colored objects or play a movie on their cell phones in order to create their own light sequences.
all images courtesy of JOE O’CONNELL AND BLESSING HANCOCK