Coastline (sculpture)

Coastline
Artist Jim Sanborn
Year 1993 (1993)
Type Outdoor sculpture
Dimensions 1.8 m × 9.1 m × 23 m (6 ft × 30 ft × 75 ft)
Location Silver Spring, Maryland

Coastline is an outdoor sculpture by American artist Jim Sanborn installed at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration complex in Silver Spring, Maryland.[1]

Coastline attempts to recreate the effect of waves crashing on the Atlantic coast (represented by rough-cut granite).[2] This is achieved with artificial waves generated by a turbine and pneumatic blower underneath the sculpture. The wave frequency is controlled by a remote tide gauge in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, that sends actual wave heights to the sculpture's control mechanism in real time.[3] Sanborn built a quarter-size scale model of the sculpture and consulted with a wave engineer while doing research for the project.[2]

References

  1. ^ Forgey, Benjamin (November 20, 1993). "A hand, a wave, a winner; Sculptures bring out the best at NOAA complex". Washington Post: Section B, p. 1. 
  2. ^ a b Shaw-Eagle, Joanna (June 1, 1997). "Artist sheds new light on sculpture". Washington Times: Part D, p. 1. 
  3. ^ Dunin, Elonka. "Sanborn's Coastline Sculpture". http://elonka.com/kryptos/sanborn/coastline.html. Retrieved February 8, 2011.