A proposal for a demonstration of the animated mandala on a building's exterior
In various spiritual traditions, mandalas are employed for focusing
attention, as a spiritual teaching tool, for establishing a sacred
space, and as an aid to meditation. According to the
psychologist David Fontana, its symbolic nature can help one "to access
progressively deeper levels of the unconscious to experience a mystical
sense of oneness with the cosmos. The psychoanalyst Carl Jung saw
the mandala as a representation of the unconscious self
and an aid in working towards wholeness in personality.
A large, light-weight illuminated
mandala would be temporarily suspended on the side of a building This linear
mandala will
be animated with moving patterns dancing over its surface. An architect's animated rendering offers an impression of the
effect of the moving patterns on a large outdoors mandala..
The patterns
are organized, cohesive and aesthetically pleasing, and they are not
repetitive. This is a design I have employed in several artworks over
the past 35 years.
It is derived from an 11th Century tiling
pattern and generated from a combination of 4,5,6,7 and 8 sided
polygons . The lines that form the mandala meet in 144 points.
The mandala( below) is applied as an opaque overlay on a large
circle of translucent vinyl, 18 feet diameter or so, depending on the site.
The areas that are black are opaque. The yellow
lines represent the translucent areas of the bare vinyl
which will be animated by back lighting LEDs.
Twelve inches behind each of the
144 points will be
a high intensity
(1000 lumen), low voltage (18 volts) LED (Light Emitting
Diode). The LED will illuminate the nexus and the lines
radiating from it.
The image above illustrates that each of the LEDs is
turned on and off by a
custom designed computer and associated electronics and
sensors that are sitting inside a window behind the mandala
The other components are outside attached to the LED's
structure or down near the street.
I have built, used and improved this system for three
decades. A version of it, the PROGMOD, currently on loan to
the Hands On Museum in Ann Arbor, has been exhibited at the IBM Gallery
in NYC, The Everson Museum and the Cincinnati museum of Art. It is a
thoroughly debugged, field-tested
and reliable system.
Its custom program, GLO 1, uses data from sensors to make
decisions
about the nature of the animated light patterns it displays. The sensors are a radar unit and a microphone
both located at street level where the movements and sounds of visitors
and pedestrians can interact with the system.
A video clip excerpted from "Jim Pallas: Electronic Sculptor",
an
Emmy-winning film by Sue Marx shows the PROGMOD (as a work in progress)
and the Century of Light responding to Harbinger Dance troupe's
movements and the sound of music.
2012 Budget for the Demonstration
(Note: This budget is realistic only because the I already have the
necessary computing hardware, drivers, and relays.)
148 LEDs at 5.76 each ........................$664
400 sq feet of 4 mil vinyl or nylon..............48
400 sq feet of canvas................................92
2880 feet (144 x 20 ) data cable feet.....374
1440 feet (144x10)power cable..............152
microwave radar unit...............................98
Power supplies......................................200
technical assistance................................800
total.......................................................2328
.Introduction
Century of Light: Six minute video
PROGMOD :Off-site programming module
Technical: Information and images of the Century of Light
Proposed: Demonstration of the mandala
Animated Rendering: Temporary mandala on a building
Labyrinth: Futile attempt to save the artwork.
Currently the PROGMOD is on long term loan to the Ann Arbor.Hands On Science Museum..
Pallas home page