Tomás Saraceno will dedicate his newest sculptural installation, “Crux Australis 68.00”, the first work by the acclaimed artist to be on permanent, public view in Houston, Texas, at Rice University on December 13, 5–6:30pm (CST). Commissioned by the university’s Moody Center for the Arts, the work is the latest addition to the prestigious Rice Public Art collection.
The polyhedral sculpture — which takes its name from the constellation with the highest concentration of bright stars — spans multiple stories in Rice University’s newly opened Ralph O’Connor Building for Engineering Science (designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill). Comprised of 10 shapes arranged in three clusters of interconnected polyhedrons inspired by the Weaire-Phelan structure, this work is informed by the artist’s decades-long research into the molecular, environmental, and symbolic aspects of natural shapes like bubbles, clouds, spider webs, and honeycombs. Suspended in mid-air and covered with mirrored surfaces, the sculpture also reflects the surroundings of the O’Connor building — the ambient natural light, scholars engaged in research, and students deep in study. Emblematic of Rice University’s bright future and cross-departmental, collaborative history, “Crux Australis 68.00” signifies the multi-disciplinary conversations central to the university’s pedagogy and critical to improving life on our planet.
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The Rice Public Art collection, established in 2008, boasts an exceptional roster of artists. From James Turrell, Michael Heizer, and Sol LeWitt to Ursula von Rydingsvard, Carmen Herrera, and Odili Donald Odita, the collection brings transformative works of art to areas where students, faculty, and staff work and live. Sited across Rice’s 300-acre campus, the public art program amplifies the core educational and research missions of the university in visible and inspiring ways. The Moody Center for the Arts oversees the acquisition, installation, and maintenance of the collection.
To learn more, visit moody.rice.edu.
Source: Hyperallergic.com