Landing
Ralph Helmick and Stuart Schechter
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Thousands of small suspended sculptures combine to form a larger than life snow goose.
Above the shops and restaurants of Sea-Tac’s Pacific Marketplace atrium, a snow goose appears to land on water, its image reflected on the aqueous surface. An intricate suspended sculpture made of 2,776 pewter and resin elements, Landing hangs from the 60-foot ceiling using 5.8 miles of cable.
The small components of the artwork coalesce into its large composite forms through an optical phenomenon called anamorphosis. The snow goose is made up of many tiny birds in flight and the reflection is comprised of schools of fish—all of which are cast in pewter and painted with shimmering blue, green, and gold tones that change with the light. Raindrops made of resin appear to fall around them.Continue Reading ›
Ralph Helmick and Stuart Schechter collaborated on a number of public art projects from 1993 to 2008, combining visual delicacy and material strength in their work. Both together and independently, they are known around the world for their magical suspended creations.