Compass

Bellvue City Hall. Aluminum, bronze, electromechanical components. 2006

The main part of the work is a 21 M (70’) high aluminum compass needle shaped element. This is mounted on a bearing 4 M (12’) off the end of a 107 M (350’) long concourse that penetrates through the central core of the buildings structure, at the fourth floor level. The two components of the compass needle, the large part and the smaller round mirrored part in the focal point, rotate in opposite directions in the wind flow around and across the 4th floor balcony. A Bronze eyepiece mounted on a track on the curved railing is connected electronically to the front doors of the building. It always focuses on the central round mirrored element of the needle part. This relationship between the eyepiece and the bisected mirrors is a reference to the dynamic found in various types of navigational devices such as a sextant, for in determining position, or a theodolite. Embedded in the Terrazzo floor of the concourse, are a pair of continuous metal lines that connect the front doors of the building to the eyepiece on the balcony. Collaborator Linda Beaumont designed the floor. When the left hand set of doors are used, the bias of the eyepiece moves to the left and when the right hand doors are used, it moves it to the right. The interaction and dynamic of the work is provoked by the wind and the peoples usage and visits to the building. The City of Bellevue was home to a compass manufacturing company for some 90 years.