Physical Elements

Elements

The sculpture can be divided into four different function groups (listed from the ground up): Foundation, Christianity, Islam, and the Mechanism. Each of these elements play an important role in both the structural and thematic themes of the sculpture.

Each of the sculpture's physical elements play a separate role and are either directly representative of one of the two religions or of the relationship and/or dynamics that are present between them.

Each of the sculpture's design elements (scale, rotation, interaction, and intersections) indicate an important concept to which I draw a parallel within each of the religion's context. Each of these concepts play an important role in defining the user's experience.

Foundation

The foundation is permanently fixed to ground and is the support on which all moving parts are placed.

Isometric View

Front View

Top View

Foundation Element

Materials & Surface Treatments

The foundation's main body and the Atlas Track will be made of Light Grey Bohus Granite. The surface will be highly polished and sealed. Cement will be used to fix the foundation to the surrounding landscape.

Mechanical Purpose

This element acts as the interface between ground and the sculpture’s moving elements. An unseen, steel, support structure provides extra strength and a conduction path for lightening strikes. This element does not move and supports the entire rotating sub-assembly (Christianity/Islam/Mechanism) on its platform.

Symbolic Depiction

The granite support represents the solid foundations and history on which both religions are based, namely, those documented within the Bible and the Koran.

Christianity

With its system of rollers in contact with the Foundation, the Christianity element acts as the interface between all grounded and moving elements.

Isometric View

Front View

Top View

Christianity Element

The roller system on which all moving elements rotate relative to the fixed foundation.

Materials & Surface Treatments

The element representing Christianity will be made out of a light-weight metal. Aluminum from recycled sources is being considered. The outer surface and edges will be highly polished and shiny. The inner surface will be similar to the outer except that it will have an extra treatment that will make it look stressed and dimpled.

Mechanical Purpose

This element acts as the interface between all rotating elements and the foundation. It is one of the logical “activation points” where users will interact with the piece. All moving elements are constrained to the Christianity element which is free to rotate upon a system of rollers, in either direction, relative to the fixed foundation.

Symbolic Depiction

The shell represents the isolating effect that Christianity has had on my life. I was not exposed to or taught about other religions until later in life. The shiny outer surface represents a modern, more technically advanced, society, as in a typical, Western society. The interior surfaces, having a more stressed appearance, represent those elements of Christianity that are not well known by its practitioners, the morbid & ungodly behavior of the Christian Crusaders of the Middle Ages.

Islam

This element acts as the support structure for the Mechanism element.

Isometric View

Back View

Top View

Islam Element

Materials & Surface Treatments

The element representing Islam will be made out of a hard wood. Red Oak is being considered. The outer surface and edges will be sanded very smooth, be highly polished and sealed. The inner surface will have the appearance of rough-cut lumber and will be treated to resist the weather.

Mechanical Purpose

This element acts as the support structure for the mechanism elements and the cantilever part of the Christianity element. It may also act as one of the logical “activation points” where users will interact with the piece.

Symbolic Depiction

The bulbous shape brings to mind elements of Arabic architectural styles, as those found in minarets and mosques. The simple material of oak represents the simple, more ancestral and spiritual feeling that I receive when categorizing Islam. The exterior is highly polished and smooth to represent the commitment and seemingly unwavering devotion of its dedicated followers. As with the element representing Christianity, the interior surfaces are roughened to symbolize the darker, extremist side of Islam.

Mechanism

This element is made out of a series of gears and a mechanical linkage which allows for the periodic presentation of the plus and minus symbols.

Isometric View

Side View

Top View

Mechanism Element

Materials & Surface Treatments

The parts that make up the Mechanism element will be made out of various light-weight materials. The +/- Bar is of particular interest since it plays such an important role in the piece. A hardened light-colored plastic that is highly polished and shiny is being considered for this part.

Mechanical Purpose

These elements provide the mechanical linkages needed to periodically (xxMB mpeg) present (jab) the +/- bar to the user as the sculpture is activated. The timing of the mechanism is such that for each complete revolution of the rotating parts, the plus and the minus signs on the Jabber Bar are each presented once. Maintaining a low-weight for these elements is important so that activation of the sculpture is not hindered.

Symbolic Depiction

On one side of the sculpture, the user is presented with the plus sign of the bar which represents all the good and positive things that organized religion can offer (a sense of place, community, being humble and humanistic). On the opposite side, the user is presented with the minus sign of the bar which reminds users that taking extremist stances within your religion can be negative and often result in the inhumane treatment of others.

Design Elements

Each of these non-physical concepts play an important role in defining the user's experience.

Scale

The scale of the sculpture is such as to make the user feel quite small in relation to it but not so small that he or she cannot interact with it. An average sized adult (between ~1.5 to 1.8 m) with moderate physical fitness should just be able to comfortably activate the sculpture.

Exploded View

Religious Parallel

As with most people’s experience with their religion, the overall tenets are often not known in-depth or seem too large or philosophical to try and come to terms with all of them. People tend to focus on the parts of a religion that are oft-repeated and most familiar.

Rotation

The Christianity/Islam/Mechanism sub-assembly is free to rotate, in either direction, relative to the fixed foundation. This rotational motion is used as the input that drives the +/- Bar to present itself periodically on each side of the sculpture through the slot created by the shared empty space between the elements representing Christianity and Islam.

All parts with light-blue color are fixed to ground. All other
elements rotate in either direction about the vertical axis
as depicted by the green arrows.

Religious Parallel

A person’s belief system takes into account worldly concerns and often influences how one sees his role within the world, so as the world spins on it axis so too does this sculpture. I want the user to see the world as more of a common and shared space that needs a certain level of understanding and tolerance for creating a peaceful coexistence with all humans on the planet, regardless of their particular belief.

Interaction

The interactivity of the sculpture is an important design element. I would like the user to feel he or she must try to get it spinning to see what the resulting reaction may be. To actually approach the sculpture, feel it's mass, put a little effort into making it move, possibly approaching a friend (or better yet, a stranger) to ask if he or she could assist in getting it moving are the first steps to understanding what the basic concept is behind the sculpture.

Religious Parallel

Religion only “works” when the faithful play an active role in administrating and propagating the belief system. And so, too, the observer must interact with the sculpture to gain the entire experience. The result of activating the sculpture presents a give and take situation, reminding the user that each of his or her actions are their own responsibility and the consequences should be understood before taking any action.

Intersections

Two of the sculpture´s elements, Christianity and Islam, intersect each other on each side of the sculpture. Both of these elements plays a critical role within the mechanical support structure of the overall sculpture. The Christianity element supports the entire rotating sub-assembly and the Islam element provides the structural support for the mechanism.

The mechanism is mounted to the inner surface of the
Islam element and to the cantilever part (not shown).

Religious Parallel

The intersections of the sculpture symbolize the common roots that the two religions share. The same God is worshipped by the faithful of each religion. Also, many prophets and important, historical, religious figures such as David, Joseph, Mohammed, and Abraham play central roles in how each religion was shaped and is interpreted.