Continuing through December 16, 2011
A series of rope-wrapped rocks hang at a rectangular perimeter, tethered to what looks like a metallic parachute. Sited within the Suyama Peterson Deguchi architectural office, this is “Buoyancy,” an installation by Jay Atherton and Cy Keener. The pair of Phoenix-based artist/architects have created a striking piece sensitive to light, temperature, air movement, and air pressure. A delicate layer of reflective material is balanced with the set of rock-weights.
Between one’s line of vision and the skylights above, this shiny silver false ceiling is designed to respond to changing weather, as well as to bodies moving through the gallery. When the space is empty, the piece is often still and quiet, while bodies and breath passing the work cause a ruffle in the shiny armature, and an occasional swell of motion. Designed to reflect a certain interrupted equilibrium, “Buoyancy” seems, more often than not, far too balanced and motionless.
