SENSORY JOURNEY

Typically a sculpture park presents objects in a landscape. By contrast, this piece for Art Omi is a place of assembly and community that offers an encounter with the landscape.

An armature of wood posts stretches 125 feet into a 30-acre field. With its due east/west orientation the pavilion acts as a large sundial as its shadows trace across the landscape throughout the day. The structure frames views and provides shaded seating and picnicking areas as well as a fire pit.

Inserted within the work are whimsical stations that promote playful encounters with the natural world: coral-colored wind chimes express air currents by means of gentle peels; green pipes waft herbal scents upward; blue scopes focus on the places where trees meet sky; and yellow audio cones allow people to converse over long distances. The bright colors vibrate against the black framework. This low-budget, low-tech pavilion was constructed and painted partly by our studio.

Sensory Journey activates the natural beauty of its Hudson Valley setting, encouraging visitors to go beyond a passive visual experience and instead to engage with all of their senses, exploring the role humans play in the living environment.