Extra Credit Event #1: Lauren Bon and Metabolic Studio 

     I was very skeptical when I first laid eyes upon the exhibit as it seemed quite uninviting and subtle vibrating sound echoes around. The room was pitched black with only a tiny gleam of light shining down from the middle of the ceiling. In the middle of the relatively empty space, there was a big piece of drapery dangling from the ceiling, surround the source of light. Upon a closer look, there’s also a bowl of water close to the ceiling.

     The Catch, a sound work developed by Lauren Bon is a model for larger-scale installation that will be built at Bon’s Metabolic Studio in downtown Los Angeles. Created by the environmentally conscious studio, the project aims to diverts water from the Los Angeles River to a publicly accessible bio-remediation gardens on the roof of the Metabolic Studio building. This way, water that would be otherwise bypassed would be captured for the benefit of those in need. Instead of the bass-like drone that vibrates the water in the Hammer museum exhibition, the equivalent effect at the actual installation will be created by the impact of the buckets of waterwheel filling with water.

 ripple effect created by the water lens

     Although I found this installation to be quite strange initially, my interest peaked after doing some research on the project. On one hand, the model at Hammer museum is very similar to the designs displayed at the  Heatherwick exhibition. Both exhibitions embodies the concept of practicality while being aesthetically pleasing to the eye. On the other hand, much like the singular space exhibition in Fowler Museum at UCLA, this installation also factors our daily life into the account of the art project. Aside from being an optic and sonic piece, it creates a connection with the local geography. Due to the nature of Los Angele’s climate and recent concern of drought, this installation makes an excellent public manifestation as it brings awareness to our current events, benefits the larger society while allowing us to appreciate the beauty of art.