Learning from Failure by Barbara Matthews

 

I recently had the opportunity to show a piece of work at a night-time illuminated art event-- Luminata at Green Lake in Seattle sponsored by the Fremont Arts Council. My pieces do well in natural light. Glacier Cathedral shown below with natural light coming from behind seemed like the best choice for the event.

I have seen signs made of acrylic effectively illuminated from below with LED lights. I wanted to try that with this piece.

The vertical pieces of Glacier Cathedral fit into slots cut into a 1” base of acrylic glass. The acrylic base rests on an additional base of steel that is bolted onto the acrylic. With longer bolts and several washers, the acrylic and steel bases could be separated by enough space to accommodate the LED light strips.

Launching on my project to light my piece from below, I gathered the needed supplies.   Maybe the first hint that I was taking on more than I should?? 

After many hours and failed soldering attempts at connecting wires to the led strips, I got the strips connected one to another and to successfully light.

I found out days before the event that electricity would not be made available to the art pieces. So plan B was install a battery pack with a remote control, both of which I had previously tested. Suddenly the LED lights went out and the wire was extremely hot. I consulted with friends and my brother whose ideas were helpful, but did not result in lighted lights. It was then that I decided I was over my head in my expertise, so abandoned the idea of LED lights. 

Instead I back lit the piece with several battery powered spotlights. A super easy solution. Here the piece at home and at the event.

The failure turned out to be a grand success, but one I could have accomplished in hours rather than days. Perhaps I need to temper my desire to learn new things and rely on others with expertise to handle some parts of the fabrication.