Hanging beneath a pine tree canopy in Italy, John Grade's installation Reservoir looks like a dazzling outdoor chandelier. Made up of 5,000 clear "droplets," it interacts with nature, allowing people to visualize the impact of rain and snow.
More info: johngrade.com | artesella.it
Image credits: John Grade
Suspended above a clearing in a grove of pine trees, Reservoir is made up of 5,000 droplets
Image credits: John Grade
"I am probably most happy when out in the natural world so one of the primary things I aim to do with installations is drawing focus to aspects of what I love most about being in nature," John told Bored Panda. "So with Reservoir, I hoped to illuminate the subtle grandeur of the way rain filters down through the tree canopy."
Image credits: John Grade
As rainwater or snow accumulates in the droplets, the position and shape of the nets lower and change
Image credits: John Grade
"I came up with the idea for the project by spending long periods of time simply sitting and walking through the forest at Arte Sella sculpture park and thinking through exactly why it felt so good to be there. The quiet sounds of rainfall on the forest floor were my initial point of inspiration.
Image credits: John Grade
As collected water evaporates, the sculpture rises back to its original configuration
Image credits: John Grade
"The installation was inspired by the location," John said. "I wanted the sculpture to respond to the location and to influence our understanding of the rainfall there in a new way (because the accumulation of water could be understood visually with the sculpture's elements)."
Image credits: John Grade
Sheathed springs below pulleys limit the vertical range of motion so the sculpture remains at least ten feet above the ground
Image credits: John Grade
"I was initially worried that birds might accidentally fly into the net structure and get caught and hurt. So we did tests with different types of netting and by using a very fine net we have had no problems with birds or any other type of animals. I think the shine of the droplet parts also repels birds from flying into the sculpture."
Image credits: John Grade
Even a very light rain creates enough downward movement to be comprehended visually by viewers below
Image credits: John Grade
"From the beginning, we have set out to make two versions of the sculpture (the second version a couple of years into the future) so I knew that the first sculpture did not have to include every aspect of what I was interested in. This created a sense of freedom and I think helped keep the general thrust of the sculpture more spare and successful. Over the next couple of years, I will study the movement and any unanticipated things that might occur with the sculpture to apply to the next version. We are also testing biodegradable forms of plastic to use with the next version of the sculpture."
Image credits: John Grade
When dry, the sculpture weighs 70 pounds (32 kg). When filled by heavy rainfall, it can exceed 800 pounds (363 kg)
Image credits: John Grade
Periodically, the sculpture will be manually manipulated to rise and fall to engage with the movements initiated by dancers' performances below.
Image credits: Casabella
The varied topography surrounding the site of the sculpture offers viewers both a vantage directly below the cloud-like mass
Image credits: John Grade
As well as a view looking across the mid-line of the sculpture slightly above its changing center of mass.
Image credits: John Grade
Image credits: John Grade
"I was really excited by what the dancers did with the sculpture when they performed with it during the inauguration of the sculpture. I think there is so much more to be discovered through dance and the human body working directly with the installation."
Image credits: John Grade
Image credits: Arte Sella
"Of course, the best thing is to experience the sculpture in person. In this case, to see the movement is especially important as well as the large scale relative to one's body. And Arte Sella is an amazing sculpture park where people can see hundreds of interesting installations along numerous paths through the landscape. I hope people will make a trip there!"
Image credits: Arte Sella
Image credits: Operaestate Festival Veneto