The Sensory Sculpture

2025. The Sensory Sculpture is an interactive sculpture that explores sound as a powerful and underutilized sensory aspect of public art. There are 11  “buttons” on the sculpture, 9 play a sound and 2 activate LED lights. It’s designed to look like a coral reef because most of the sounds are real ocean recordings and the idea was that many people (myself included) are soothed by ocean sounds. There are also 2 tonal frequencies, 396 Hz and 174 Hz, believed to release pain, stress, and emotional blockages in the brain and body.

There are also a variety of textures to explore-suede like, scratchy, smooth- because it’s also soothing to the nervous system to explore simply by touch.

Almost all of the materials and building methods used to make this sculpture were new to me. I learned a lot and would change some things next time, but overall it was a fantastic opportunity to experiment with new ways of making art that excites me and creates an opportunity for the public to experience a moment of calm and play.

70”H x 24”W x 24”D

Steel plate, rebar, xps foam, spray foam, wire mesh, concrete papier-mâché (paper, joint compound, pva glue, portland cement), acrylic paint, spray paint, flock, tulle, moss, metal drawer pulls, LED strips, QuinLED board, raspberry pi board, speaker + amplifier, insulated wire, shielded wire, decorative rock, epoxy, wood.

This project was funded through the City of Boulder’s Experiments in Public Art program, which serves as a city-wide laboratory expanding the potential of public art. Unlike a traditional public art, Experiments in Public Art projects are as much a civic dialogue as they are opportunities for artists to work within unconventional parameters. For more information please visit: https://bouldercolorado.gov/publicart