Mantle
Cris Bruch
Dexter Horton Building
A sculpture’s complex geometry holds an accumulation of movement—and meaning.
The title of this sculpture by Cris Bruch hints at multiple meanings: Mantles can be enveloping protective covers; they can also be delicate shells that convert the heat of an open flame into incandescent light, like the ones that illuminated the streets of Europe and the United States in the late 19th century.
To create the honeycomb-like shape of this work, Bruch folded paper into a complex and precise geometry, his repetitive actions slowly accumulating to build the form. Bruch says he relishes the seemingly insignificant everyday movements that define who we are. He is interested in how we do things and much as what we do.
Currently installed on the first floor of the historic Dexter Horton Building in Seattle’s Pioneer Square, Mantle was commissioned as part of the Honors Program, which recognizes visual artists who have made significant contributions to our region through the sustained production of high-quality artwork.
