Islands is an interactive light-based installation consisting of 10 to 14 modules. Each module is a small machine that encapsulates a sensor, a motor, a microcontroller, a battery, a light, and a dichroic cube, enclosed within a clear acrylic housing. The work explores the profound sense of isolation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and showcases the innovative solutions and creative interventions that emerged during this time.

Inspired by the unique circumstances of the pandemic, where physical distancing became the norm, Islands draws upon the visual imagery of redesigned public spaces. Circles on park lawns, painted plazas encouraging safe interactions, and whimsical costumes with 12-foot hoops symbolize the resilient human spirit and our capacity for adapting and reconnecting in extraordinary ways. This exploration of innovative approaches to connection and reconnection forms the central theme and concept of the series.

Islands was generously supported by the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department, and Austin’s Art in Public Places Program (AIPP).