Finley Fryer, Sculpture – The Illuminated Sculpture
The Portal is an architectural sculpture comprised of 18 individual panels
and a supporting light-weight steel substructure. When assembled it can
function as an entrance way or singular monumental sculpture. Illuminated
at night, the creation reinvents itself: from the red-hot minarets to the
cooler ocean-blue dome, the colors migrate across the structure like a
fractured rainbow. The mosaic panels are made from recycled plastic over
a light-weight steel armature, with acrylic binders and a clear polyster
resin coating. The panels also have a clear fire retardant application
applied to all surfaces. The total installation can be assembled in four
to five hours by three trained technicians, with another two hours for
lighting. The Portal was designed to be highly mobile, yet have a
monumental impact. As one passes through the doorway there is an arched
entry way filled with images of the deep ocean world. In 2001 The Portal
was commissioned by a company as an entrance for their conventions. Two
days before delivery, 9/11 occured. The company did not survive the
financial aftermath and eventually The Portal was returned to the artist.
It went on to many other installations, from Burning Man in 2002, to the
worlds largest chandelier at the Exploratorium in 2003. The Portal is a
unique creation that mimics the richness of stained glass, yet its visual
magic takes the viewer to a spiritual place never before seen. Its most recent
appearance was in 2012 when Fryer had a major retrospective at the
Natsoulas Center for the Arts.
The Portal dimensions, 30′ w x 13’6″ h X 3′ d