In my last year of undergrad at NYU, I was awarded a “Green Grant” to design, build, and install some kind of sculptural work in one of the university’s community garden spaces. It began as a lighting project – I explored solar, wind, and compost-powered lighting options – but evolved quickly into this larger kinetic sculpture. I completed much of the work, and the installation, after I graduated.

Powered by solar energy, the final sculpture opens and closes autonomously throughout the day – the mechanism of each leaf opening is based on extensive research into flower mechanics and the musculature of human hands. While the sculpture is open, it plays aleatory music on a set of five orchestral brass chimes. The melody, harmony and pacing of the music change based on time, light, and weather – an ever-changing score crafted in real-time in response to the local microclimate.

The fabrication was funded by NYU's Green Grant program, and was the first artistic project to be funded by the program. Special thanks to Dave Seaward, Christy Spackman, Gabriella Levine, and Dylan Butman. Thanks also to the NYU Green Grant program for their generous support and funding.