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Mechanism
2016
FRANK SWANSON (AMERICAN)
Red Rose Granite
Maddox Engineering Research Center
A mechanism in engineering is anything that can transmit or
transform energy. The sculpture can be viewed as mechanism,
abstractly based on a sliding shaft coupler used to engage or
disengage the transfer of energy.
The sculpture also honors the Maddox brothers, Jack and
Donovan, and the JF Maddox Foundation. The center piece
represents the Foundation, formed by the brothers. The two
outer pieces represent each brother. They were the mechanism
that transformed their goodwill into a foundation to benefit
their community, a transformation of energy that will live on
for generations.
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Hive
2010
WILLIAM CANNINGS (BRITISH)
Inflated Steel
Electrical & Computer Engineering Building
Hive in the Center of Pulsed Power and Power Electronics
(P3E) was created from welded sheets of steel, each 8.5" x
11". These were then inflated using compressed air, resulting
in the tactile “quilt.” Each cell of the quilt was inflated at the
same time, allowing the individual cells to affect the whole
form. The sculpture was finished using color-changing paint,
creating visual change as the viewer moves through the space.
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