Today I braved the cold wind to look at the three winning follies on the grounds of the Cameron Art Museum. Two captivated me but the third appeared unfinished.
Haint Blue, designed by Clemson University associate professor of architecture Daniel Harding, sits nestled in the pines. It is inspired partly by legends from the Gullah culture of coastal South Carolina and Georgia of haints or spirits who are trapped between earth and the next world because of an untimely death. The designer thought that aspect fit in well since it sits at the Battle of Forks Road.
Matt Bua, an artist from New York, titled his folly Tar House. The following from his blog explains his concept: "A free-standing hand-built outdoor museum dedicated to all things “tar” will be built in the shape of an over-sized sculptural foot poised with heel in the air revealing tar-like stalagmites hanging above referencing the history of the term “tar heel”. It incorporates some small trees that had been cleared from the museum grounds and various found objects.
I almost missed the third one, Switchtower 4022 by Toby Keeton, an architectural intern at a local firm. It is located on the other side of the museum. As I walked up to it, it appeared unfinished. Since the museum was closed, I could not ask anyone about it. So, of course, as any reference librarian would do, I came home and hopped on the net. Comparing the design submitted for the contest and the “finished” project, I have decided that someone made a mistake in laying out the footers for the uprights. On Toby Keeton’s blog, he says, “Many of the details shown have changed due to budget concerns, material availability, & just plain tinkering. The folly will continue to evolve throughout the process, but this is where it began.” I wonder where it will end.
No comments:
Post a Comment