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Erwin Timmer’s original concept sketch for the cast recycled glass panel sculpture.
The actual installation of the glass sculpture. The vision and reality are a close match!
This weekend, Erwin Timmers installed a major commissioned art work for the new environmentally conscious building at
1129 20th St, NW, Washington, DC
Working together with Anna Major of Fox Architects and building owner John Gattuso, the wall sculpture is a site–specific piece that has a dialog with Margaret Boozer’s ceramic artwork installation also in the building lobby.
The owner wanted artwork with a vertical orientation to echo the architectural aspects of the space, mounted atop the subtle-textured white limestone wall. Although the building and its lobby are very minimalist in design, a strong artwork was desired to work in contrast. In the owners words, the wall is beautiful, but sooner or later people are going to ask him, “…when are you going put up the art?”
The wall sculpture created by casting with recycled window glass is central to the concept of this piece. Erwin was selected for the commission in part because of his use of sustainable design in his artwork, and his use of recycled glass has the artwork keep in the nature of the building’s LEED gold certified design. Window glass or float glass is one of the least recycled building materials and many recycling advocacy organizations and programs consider it the pariah of their work. Less than 3% percent of discarded float glass is recycled, and this project provided the opportunity to divert at least some from the waste stream.
Erwin Timmers installing the recycled glass artwork on the limestone wall.
There is also a great play between the lobby artworks, where Margaret Boozer’s work is stone on glass, and Erwin’s incorporates glass on stone. Erwin commented that his glass sculpture also references modern technology and communication – the final design is actually based on the word “ART” in barcode language.
Erwin Timmers sculpture left, Margaret Boozer’s sculpture beyond.
Click HERE to see more of Erwin Timmers’ environmental based artwork.