Petals of Light  2022

Kaiser Permanente Santa Cruz County Medical Offices, Scotts Valley CA

Dichroic glass and stainless steel cable

10’-7” x 11’-6” x 10’

Inspired by the wildflower fields and forests of the local hillside, this installation evokes the experience of encountering nature. In the two-story entry lobby, a suspended glass flower field comprises over 500 dichroic glass petals woven vertically, each ending with a clear blown glass droplet.

When the first sunbeam filters through the floor-to-ceiling curtain wall, the dichroic petals ignite into a vibrant light show. As visitors enter, hundreds of luminous reflections in shifting, multi-colored hues appear throughout the space—most vividly on the south-facing white wall and the walls surrounding the stairway—fluttering gently like butterflies, animated by the building’s subtle natural vibrations. Simultaneously, deeper, saturated shadow patterns of the petals are projected onto the curved upper wall beneath the interior window to the right. This interplay of reflections and shadows transforms the lobby into a living field of color, revealing a dimension of the artwork visible only at sunrise.