Client

Overview

“Migrations” depicts a migratory bird and is built with structural steel members and steel brackets clad in tensioned architectural fabric. The bird measures 20′ in height, 42′ in width and 17′ in depth.

“Migrations” invited contemplation on the many experiences of animal and human migration, from hopeful journeys toward opportunity to involuntary displacement due to unrest or necessity. At its core, the installation sought to foster empathy and understanding by highlighting the common thread woven through every migration story. By providing a platform for personal story-sharing, “Migrations” aimed to unite visitors through shared experiences and emotions.

It was our goal that users walk away with new perspectives on migration, memories of their own movements, and a sense of awe – the same awe one has when mesmerized by the beauty of a large swarm of birds, school of fish or herd of bison.

Goals

Common Swifts migrate over 5,000 miles each season. Geese travel up to 3,000 miles and can find their exact birthplace. Born in Alaska, the Golden Plover can navigate over 3,000 miles nonstop to Hawaii without guidance from its parents. Their ability to find Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean still mystifies biologists. Over half of all animal species migrate — and they do so for a myriad of reasons.

Humans are no different. Human movement patterns date back approximately 2 million years ago when Homo Erectus spread throughout most of Africa. They were followed by Homo sapiens reaching almost every part of the world, migrating by foot, over approximately 10,000 generations within 250,000 years. Every step these early humans took is directly connected to all of us today. We are all descendants of migrating humans. In 2019, 272 million people migrated, crossing borders for a myriad of reasons.

Limited mobility may significantly impact our ability to stay resilient despite rapid changes to our collapsing climate. We dream of a habitable earth where all living creatures can find and make a home. "Migrations" depicts a migratory bird. The installation invites contemplation on the beauty and struggle of human and animal migration.

Process

The goal was to create a visually impactful, iconic sculptural fabric artwork that captured an audience's attention. Architectural Fabric was our first choice for creating a structurally sound sculpture that seems to defy gravity. The large, playful wing reaches 20 feet into the sky, perfectly balanced with the body and the other wing. When placed indoors, the sculpture can stand independently without any additional support. Outdoors, depending on the location, helical anchors or welded steel plates are used to provide the necessary anchoring.

The sculpture served as a central gathering point, a beacon of light symbolizing the journey of migration. Scanning a QR code launched a companion web application that complemented the physical structure and enabled an enhanced level of interactivity. Upon launching the companion experience on their mobile device, visitors were shown a digital flock of origami birds migrating around the globe. Individuals could unfold an origami bird to read heartfelt messages and personal anecdotes about migration written by previous visitors. Participants could also share their own stories by selecting a color for their digital origami bird and scribing a message. Submitting their message illuminated the sculpture in the same color as the origami bird.