Jonathan and Evelyn Clowes
Title: Soaring Spirits Atrium Sculpture, 2004
Site: White County Medical Center, Searcy, AR
"The vision and guidance of Susan Gammon, an interior designer in Fayetteville, Arkansas, were invaluable in creating this successful installation. She approached us after seeing our work in The Guild Sourcebook 17, and this project became a fantastic collaboration.
"Originally, this atrium was to have a large chandelier. Susan and architect Bill Gray of Little Rock thought a sculptural piece might be more interesting. They came to us with a concept that included clouds and birds. During our first visit, we discussed some bird concepts we had already played with, and those eventually developed into Soaring Spirits. Our problem-solving skills and ability to install a large-scale projects under budget secured the project for us.
"Addressing site-specific concerns often yields a new direction and powerful results. This project is quite different from the work we advertised in The Guild Sourcebooks years ago. Even compared to our recent pieces, it is a radical departure. Soaring Spirits, for which all the birds were pressed in the same die, represents the first time we have used many repeated elements to achieve a gesture."