Client: The Department of Physics and Astronomy, UVic | The Henry Art Gallery, UW

Overview

The Cloud Chamber (2011) is a functioning particle detector built for the purpose of making contrails from cosmic rays visible in real time, to the naked eye, within a freestanding sculpture. Conceived of in 2008 the work was completed in 2011 for an exhibition at The Henry Art Gallery in Seattle and subsequent installation in the Elliott Lecture Hall, as a permanent exhibition within the Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, at The University of Victoria in Canada. Cosmic rays are invisible, omnipresent, energetic phenomena that originate in outer space. In order to see them, specific environmental conditions must be established and maintained; this analog technology of the physics lab from the mid-twentieth century rests inside Pullen’s sculptures. In the Cloud Chamber, a sealed, windowed compartment contains warm isopropyl alcohol that evaporates above a cold plate refrigerated at -96° F. When a cosmic ray passes through this super-cooled mist, a contrail is formed. Scientists call this moment an Event.

Goals

"This moment is mine."
-Marjorie Lund, Structural Engineer

The goal is to contain a sustainable, super-cooled -86F environment. Because it does not freeze, alcohol is the perfect medium seeing cosmic rays. it moves within a scientific environmental system. The top layer of the chamber is a piece of glass made like the windsheld of an airplane, with thermal capabilities that resist extreme temperatures and frost. Six inches beneath this surface is an anyodized black copper plate connected to a refridgeration unit. A dense fog of alcohol forms between these surfaces which scientists call the ‘super saturated layer’ which is where we can observe cosmic events in real time, with the naked eye.

Process

Made in collaboration with Dr. J.E. Albert Phd and the department of Physics and Astronomy, the sculpture developed as a collaboration between Pullen and Dr. Justin Albert from 2008 - 2011 with increasing support from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, at the University of Victoria in Canada where the two leads were assistant professors in the respective departments of Fine Art and Particle Physics. Every aspect of the object is documented by Triumf engineer Mark Lenkowski in Victoria BC and Andy Baker of Kontraptioneering in Brooklyn NY. Fabricated to their specifications Chris Secord, a machinist at UVic produced one object with the cutting services of Terra Precision in Saanich BC while Pullen produced the other in Beech Lake PA with planes cut on a 3 axis router in with Kontraptioneering in Brooklyn. Both objects use 1/8” aluminum (6160 alloy) plate. Electrical engineering was set in place by Neil Hokannen of the dept. of Physics and Astronomy at UVic, and Paul Birney, of Triumf. Two students worked on the project, Laura Anderson and Kate Pachal .

Additional Information

Lucy Pullen situates her work in the unexpected terrain opened up when the disciplines of visual art, philosophy, and physical science meet. In recent years, the artist’s inquiries have explored invisible things, like a thought or an atomic particle, and the human drive to directly observe these intangibles. Pullen intentionally shifts her work between the everyday and the esoteric as she pursues projects that give structure to the essential uncertainty and randomness of the universe. Drawn to quantum theory as a discipline that embraces these notions, Pullen collaborated with engineers and astrophysicists to create sculptures to house devices that detect cosmic rays as they pass through our earthly environments. The results — Cloud Chamber and Spark Chamber — were on view at the Henry Art Gallery from March 5 to June 26, 2011 and later installed in the Elliot Building lecture wing on the University of Victoria campus.