ascension
Ascension draws inspiration from the pioneering aviators of nearby College Park Airport, where early flight relied on the construction of pylons on an open landscape for launch, orientation and navigation.
Reinterpreting this history for a contemporary transit stop, the sculpture transforms the utilitarian logic of the pylon into a dynamic vertical landmark. A solid, grounded base gradually dissolves as it twists upward, evoking both the torque of early wooden propellers and the release of lift that made flight possible. This transition from mass to motion embodies the moment of ascent, when gravity yields to air. As it rises, the form becomes increasingly open guiding the eye skyward while signaling movement through space. Serving as both marker and memory, Ascension provides a point of orientation and identity for travelers, linking the site’s aviation heritage to the evolving rhythms of contemporary transit.
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Collaborator:
David Franklin (w)
Project Team:
Rbhu Engineering (w)
Reinterpreting this history for a contemporary transit stop, the sculpture transforms the utilitarian logic of the pylon into a dynamic vertical landmark. A solid, grounded base gradually dissolves as it twists upward, evoking both the torque of early wooden propellers and the release of lift that made flight possible. This transition from mass to motion embodies the moment of ascent, when gravity yields to air. As it rises, the form becomes increasingly open guiding the eye skyward while signaling movement through space. Serving as both marker and memory, Ascension provides a point of orientation and identity for travelers, linking the site’s aviation heritage to the evolving rhythms of contemporary transit.
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Collaborator:
David Franklin (w)
Project Team:
Rbhu Engineering (w)