Coffee Creek Ripple Effect is a 60-foot long, responsive, kinetic sculpture.
When a visitor enters the building and walks underneath the Ripple Effect a sensor triggers a stepper motor, which then torques the first fin. Because the fins are connected together by semi-flexible shafts, the rotation motion is slowly transferred from one fin to the next, causing a wave motion to gradually propagate down the entire length of the sculpture.
As with the term ‘ripple effect’, the idea behind the way the sculpture moves is that a single individual can be the cause of significant change. Even a small action can generate an unexpected, coordinated response when it is connected to others in a community.
This piece is particularly appropriate for a state-of-the-art water reclamation facility. Clean water is one of the essential elements for life – for humans and other living beings. Today, people impact the environment in many complex ways, and we must understand how the things we do affect rainfall, rivers and underground streams, the ocean, the clouds above our heads… and eventually the water that comes out of our faucets and goes down our drains.
The City of Edmond has taken a bold action in building this facility at Coffee Creek, one that will ripple into a more sustainable future. Visitors are encouraged to ask themselves how their own actions could cause waves that will help or hinder life for generations to come.
