Anyone who was in the lobby of the National Arts Centre in after June 15 has experienced the CLOUD.
The interactive sculpture made of light bulbs and dangling power cords was an object of fascination for people of all ages.
It was so popular the NAC has extended the exhibition of the CLOUD for three months until the end of October, 2017. An estimated 70,000 people saw the CLOUD during the Canada Scene festival and it quickly became a popular photograph for all who stood underneath its glowing bulbs..
The CLOUD is composed of 6,000 light bulbs. It was made by Calgary artists Caitlind r.c. Brown and Wayne Garrett. The piece has dozens of strings that turn bulbs on and off. allowing individuals to change the appearance of the work simply by pulling on a string or two. When ARTSFILE’s Peter Simpson wrote about the CLOUD he asked about the act of pulling on a string, “Do you create light, or darkness, and what does the decision say about you?” It’s a interesting question to contemplate.
CLOUD was first created for Nuit Blanche Calgary in September 2012. In early 2013, the artists built a second CLOUD in Russia with assistance from Garage Center for Contemporary Culture as the centrepiece for Art Experiment 2013 (Moscow). Since 2013, the sculpture has travelled the world and has been seen in Israel, Singapore, Finland, Australia and 15 other countries. The installation has even been listed for an Innovation by Design Award in New York City.
You can even donate a bulb to the CLOUD. The NAC will collect unused or burnt white incandescent bulbs (Halogen or LED will not be accepted) at the reception desk during business hours or before performances.
