Buckyball by Leo Villareal

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Buckyball was exhibited at Madison Square Park in Manhattan from October 25 2012 through February 15 2013. It was commissioned by the Madison Square Art Program or Mad Square Art. It was created by Leo Villareal, American artist born in Albuquerque New Mexico. He earned a BA in sculpture from Yale University in 1990 and a graduate degree from New York University.

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Villareal is known for incorporating LED lights and custom encoded computer software that results in spectacular illuminations.

To my friends from Buffalo New York, this the same artist who created Light Matrix in 2005. This work is permanently installed on a wall that is 16 feet tall and 60 feet wide and overlooks the sculpture garden of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.

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This work in NYC consists of two concentric metal spheres made up of hexagons and pentagons resembling the shape of carbon 60 molecules. If we include the base, the work is 30 feet tall.The metal framework is lined with 180 LED tubes that are programmed to emit a spectrum of 16 million hues. This allows for an experience that is unique every second for the possibilities for patterns and colors are literally endless.

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This work is best experienced after sundown and by laying down on the Zero-Gravity benches installed around the work.

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These bencheswere designed by Villareal himself and are intended to create a condition where the viewer can have a better connection and involvement with his work.

Buckyball draws passersby from a distance. Laying down on the benches the effect is almost indescribable for the effect is feeling suspended in zero gravity and have the sense that all that exists is this ever changing light show.

Thank you for your valued attention. To help increase knowledge of this kind of spatial awareness and help support the creation of more work of this of this nature please connect here. Please share and let me know what you think.

 

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