A 26’ x 14’ butterfly 15’ above the ground. Its wings are hinged so that they flap, propelled by the wind or by participants operating a lever. 38,000 LEDs cover its surface. As speakers play classical and classic pop music, images choreographed to each section are displayed on the LEDs. The structure of the butterfly is bent aluminum tubing. Aluminum strips are across it, onto which are glued LED strips. Each wing has a front-to-back axle around which the wing pivots. These axles are angled so that the front edges of the wings are higher than the rear edges. This allows a gust of wind to push the outer edges of the wings upward. They come down when the gust abates. Thus the wings flap even when there are no participants move them manually. Approximately 38,000 full-color, computer-controlled LEDs cover the bottom sides of each wing, surround the body, and run along each antenna and leg. These are controlled by several computers. The four speakers surrounding the butterfly are disguised as giant flower pots with LED flowers growing out of them. The flower are touch-sensitive, changing their animations in response to a visitor's attentions.
< Back to search results

Mariposa by Christopher Schart

Photo by: Dan Adams

Year: 2023

Image Caption: 

A 26’ x 14’ butterfly 15’ above the ground. Its wings are hinged so that they flap, propelled by the wind or by participants operating a lever. 38,000 LEDs cover its surface. As speakers play classical and classic pop music, images choreographed to each section are displayed on the LEDs. The structure of the butterfly is bent aluminum tubing. Aluminum strips are across it, onto which are glued LED strips. Each wing has a front-to-back axle around which the wing pivots. These axles are angled so that the front edges of the wings are higher than the rear edges. This allows a gust of wind to push the outer edges of the wings upward. They come down when the gust abates. Thus the wings flap even when there are no participants move them manually. Approximately 38,000 full-color, computer-controlled LEDs cover the bottom sides of each wing, surround the body, and run along each antenna and leg. These are controlled by several computers. The four speakers surrounding the butterfly are disguised as giant flower pots with LED flowers growing out of them. The flower are touch-sensitive, changing their animations in response to a visitor's attentions.

Collections