Seascape Relief: Update 6
Once we were satisfied with the overall design of the cityscape, we carefully documented the placement of each building, both in relation to the steel frame and to each other. We also measured the depths of the buildings in the relief. Kelly drew detailed blueprints and we photographed the mockup so that we could remove the buildings and then replace them at will as we worked on the lighting elements.
There were a host of design issues to tackle:
- How do we backlight the buildings with enough light so that the edges glow with so much steel layered on top of each other?
- How do we affix the lights to the backing board and still leave room for four layers of steel within a 2.5 inch frame?
- How do affix the steel to the backing board with the lights in the way?
- How do we place the lights in such a way that they provide enough illumination but are not visible at extreme angles when viewed from the far left and far right from center?
- What sort of lights will work?
- What sorts of colors will work with the rich colors we've chosen for the piece?
- How do we design the layers of clouds so that they are both backlit and illuminated from above?
- How do we keep the clouds from overwhelming the cityscape?
- How do we fit all the elements together seamlessly?
As seen from a 90 degree perspective: the rough drawings for the wave-like clouds rest atop the relief. A long, looping cloud arches over the cityscape, backlit by blue lights.
