Apple Park sculpture made with sand from global deserts coming in 2022

Posted:
in General Discussion
Apple has commissioned an artist and design studio to create a permanent public sculpture at the Apple Park Visitor Center containing sand from deserts across the world.

Credit: Katie Paterson
Credit: Katie Paterson


The sculpture, titled "Mirage," is being created by artist Katie Paterson and Zeller & Moye. It's made up of more than 400 glass cylinders, created by melting down sand from deserts across the globe, that are arranged in wave-like formations.

According to the artist's website, which was spotted by 9to5Mac, the installation will be located next to the olive grove adjacent to the Apple Park Visitor Center.

Paterson said that the glass cylinders will have sand from subtropical, coastal, rain-shadow, interior, mountainous, volcanic, and fossilized deserts.

A closer image of the glass cylinders. Credit: Katie Paterson
A closer image of the glass cylinders. Credit: Katie Paterson


"Visitors can interact with the artwork, walking alongside and through it, where the glass will subtly melt into the landscape, like a desert mirage. The arrangement of the glass columns will move from desert-to-desert, from East-to-West across the world, beginning at Apple Park," Paterson wrote.

Paterson is a Scottish artist who works with scientists and researchers across the world on projects that "consider our place on Earth in the context of geological time and change." She has been exhibited across the world, from New York City to Seoul.

A mockup of the
A mockup of the "Mirage" sculpture at night. Credit: Katie Paterson


Apple selected Paterson and Zeller & Moye after a search for artists who met specific criteria for public art at Apple's Cupertino, California headquarters.

The "Mirage" installation will be completed in 2022, Paterson said.

Read on AppleInsider
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 5
    To me, it's very architectural. Apple could have something like this inside one of their stores and it wouldn't look out of place. 
  • Reply 2 of 5
    applguyapplguy Posts: 235member
    Curious how this will be accomplished while being environmentally friendly. It takes an incredible amount of energy to melt 1 kg of pure sand (quartz/SiO2) so it’s clear glass. Not to mention the transport of enough sand from deserts around the world adjust for a sculpture. 
  • Reply 3 of 5
    mknelsonmknelson Posts: 1,139member
    applguy said:
    Curious how this will be accomplished while being environmentally friendly. It takes an incredible amount of energy to melt 1 kg of pure sand (quartz/SiO2) so it’s clear glass. Not to mention the transport of enough sand from deserts around the world adjust for a sculpture. 
    That's true, too! Gas is popular, but I see electric furnaces are available - depending on how the power is sourced.

    I was wondering how pure the sand is? There could be quite a colour variation depending on what mineral impurities are in each sampled desert.
  • Reply 4 of 5
    applguy said:
    Curious how this will be accomplished while being environmentally friendly. It takes an incredible amount of energy to melt 1 kg of pure sand (quartz/SiO2) so it’s clear glass. Not to mention the transport of enough sand from deserts around the world adjust for a sculpture. 
    It's unbelievable that people actually think like this.

    Do you have a refrigerator? Do you ever drink out of glass bottles? Do you live in a developed country? ...?

    Maybe Apple can get Andy Goldsworthy to come build a cool statue out of apples to make you happy.
    (Edit: that's actually a pretty good idea.)
    edited July 2021 JanNL
  • Reply 5 of 5
    mattinozmattinoz Posts: 2,441member
    To me, it's very architectural. Apple could have something like this inside one of their stores and it wouldn't look out of place. 
    Like aN Alvar Aalto vases but massive 
    foregoneconclusion
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