53-30N
This massive placemaking success was the product of a bold vision — by artist Thorsten Goldberg — in tandem with Heavy’s expertise and knowledge of bringing large scale public art features to life.
Our Approach
Designed and conceptualized by Thorsten Goldberg, facilitated by Heavy, and commissioned by Edmonton Arts Council, the entirety of 53° 30’N involves 5 unique “lanterns” that each represent specific locations sharing the same latitude as Edmonton.
The Opportunity
Heavy facilitated the planning and building of this massive sculpture by first identifying the most efficient approach that would best achieve the artists vision. The initial concept involved single cast panels showing the relief of the various locations along the 53° N latitude. Heavy was quick to steer the design towards a more faceted approach, which would still successfully accomplish the representation of each 53° N location.
Although the complexity of the project remained, the overall project became feasible and met the requirements of both the artist and the client. The end-result is a playful take on geography and art while highlighting the City of Edmonton’s connection to the world.
The project contains over 5000 uniquely cut triangles which are meant to present as right angle triangles when projected on a two dimensional surface. When pulled and skewed for three dimensional relief, all triangles become unique combinations of scalene/isosceles and acute/obtuse.
| 53° 30'N |
|---|
| ARTIST - Thorsten Goldberg |
| CLIENT — Edmonton Arts Council |
| PLACE — Kathleen Andrews Transit Garage | Edmonton, AB, Canada |
| MATERIALS — Stainless steel, structural steel frame |
