Bird Song Listening Station
Artist
Douglas Taylor
MediumSteel (galvanized, stainless), polyester, solar panels, sound dome, recorded sound
DimensionsWind turbine: 30’x15’x 15’ Listening Station: 116"H x 72"W x 30"D
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineSeattle Center 1% for Art funds
Description: Bird Song Listening Station is a kinetic and interactive sculpture that harnesses the renewable energy sources of wind and sunlight to power the artwork. As breezes fill the three 15-foot sails and rotate the wind turbine, a small generator supplies power to the sculpture's audio components. Solar panels mounted on the artwork supply power when there isn't sufficient wind energy. The sound element of the sculpture is activated when participants press the power or “play” button located at the listening station. Visitors standing beneath the listening station's sound dome will hear digital recordings of calling songs from a variety of western finches. In autumn finches feed on the seeds of Western Plane trees, such as those found at the sculpture’s site.
Artist Statement: In the 21st century, we lead extraordinarily busy lives in densely populated areas with high levels of traffic noise. We tend to not hear the wind in the trees or the bird song coming from our feathered friends high up in the branches. Bird Song Listening Station helps remind us of sounds which are ever present in the natural world, but often unnoticed. In the western world we are quite used to turning on computers or charging our cellular phones without much awareness of the source of that energy. How is energy made, what are the byproducts and which are the wisest choices in generating power for our lives. I hope Bird Song Listening Station helps bring focus to these issues in our life. As an artist/engineer, my intention is to execute sight and sound with as much beauty as possible.
Location: Seattle Center, Fisher Pavilion
Location: Seattle Center, Fisher Pavilion
