Shelter

The inspiration for "Shelter "comes from Diane's interaction with the students and faculty of Olympia Regional Learning Academy located in Olympia, WA. The committee wanted artwork that reflects the diversity and unique character of the non-traditional school. Diane was drawn to a comparison of the communal structure of a beehive as a way to artistically represent the academy. A beehive houses a community which works both individually and collectively. Bees gather pollen and nectar which they take back to the hive and create honey. The honey produced is used to subsist on later. In much the same way, the students gather information about their world as they go through the educational system at the school. They learn how to work with themselves and others. Each has an independent approach to their learning, an individual experience like no other.

Photo credit, Terry Richel

"Shelter” was designed to be collaborative with the students and faculty in design, execution and interaction. Diane asked the students to think of themselves as bees and think about what they add to the honey in their hive. The students supplied images and comments informed by this question. The resulting drawings and text were encapsulated into fused glass shapes on top of the pavilion structure.

Over 200 images of the student's artworks were scanned by Diane, who recreated them as silkscreen glass enamel decals. The decals were then patterned and fused between layers of glass to create the "honey cells." The glass color selection was based on the local pollen colors as bees produce different types of colored honey depending on the time of year and available pollen sources.

Aluminum, glass, enamel, 17' diameter, 13' height. The pavilion-like construction also functions as a gathering space. The glass filters the light and casts colorful shadows.

Original concept drawing

Students and faculty were invited to Diane’s studio to participate in learning how to fuse and cut the glass cells.

During installation Diane worked with a group of community volunteers to “putty” or place the glass into the aluminum cells.

This public art project is part of WA state’s art collection and was commissioned by the Olympia School District in partnership with the Washington State Arts Commission’s Art in Public Places program.