“Achieving the sense that these elements are floating is technically difficult.” —Juror Chrysanthi Stockwell, HGA
A recent renovation and expansion of the Seattle Asian Art Museum by LMN Architects reinstated the Fuller Garden Court as the central hub. To conceptually connect the entry lobby and space to the museum’s Asian art collection, "Gather," an eye-catching 26-by-48-by-10-foot artwork by Studio 1Thousand, suspends from the court's skylit ceiling and serves as an iconic canopy for events.
“Gather” turns 390 chip-on-board, mass-produced LED elements into a bespoke fabric with an asymmetrical form guided by catenary curves. The concept of a flowing, hanging LED fabric emerged from artist Kenzan Tsutakawa-Chinn’s long-term study of Japanese textiles. The hash pattern, a nod to ikat weaving and sashiko sewing techniques, stands out against both light and dark backgrounds.
A tight project budget led to the innovative combination of off-the shelf LED technologies with custom fabrication. Studio 1Thousand leveraged its experience in integrating new elements into existing, often historic, structures with minimal intrusion. The elegant result reflects the history of craft in Asian design.
Details
Project Name: “Gather”
Location: Seattle
Client/Owner: Seattle Asian Art Museum
Lighting Designer: Studio 1Thousand, New York • Kenzan Tsutakawa-Chinn, Glenn Chinn, Matt Stevenson
Fabricator: RushDesign, New York
Photographer: LMN Architects • Adam Hunter
Project Size: 1,260 square feet
Project Cost: $150,000
Lighting Cost: $120,000
Watts per Square Foot: 0.45
