Jali

Coming out of the pandemic and with the cancellation of Burning Man, I wanted once again to create a large scale communal art installation that could be used by the public for a multi-tude of purposes and activities during the summer months here in Cleveland. My exploration in design this past year has involved colliding together starkly different cultural architectures. The skyrocketing lumber prices hasn't helped and I also knew I need a design that was more simplistic and minimal but yet highly expandable design. 

Jali archtitecture inspired me because its uniquely blended collision of Indian and Islamic designs used in the creating of decorative lattice patterns that are used in hot tropical climates to create cooler spaces for people to use. The installations main structural framework for Jali is based off 8 fold rotational symmetry, which, can be found in Islamic architecture. At the heart of Jali will be a decorative open-air dome that also is inspired from Indian and Islamic architecture. This dome will be painted sky blue. Highly ornate decorative woodworking will accompany the 4 main extrances and interior framework inside Jali.

Jali is provide over 350 square feet of interior space with the entire structure covered with decorative Jali paneling. The installation will be lit-up with soft yellow illumination at night from the outside and inside. During the day, sunlight will provide an amazing visual experience as well as casting decorative patterns across the ground.  Jali represents a exploration between space, light, geometry, community inclusion, and immediacy. 

Jun-July 12th- Fundraising 

July 13th-18th - Material Purchase, Blueprints, and Cut Files Generated

July 30th- Aug 10th - CNC cutting of all the wooden panels and cutting of the framing lumber

Aug 11th- Aug  17th - Weatherproofing and painting wood

Aug 21-22nd - Final Construction of Installation and Display

Aug 23rd - Sept 23rd - Jali on Public Display

Jali's outreach is to help continue to raise awareness for large scale public art in Cleveland, as well, as provide free communal space for the community to engage large scale installation art that is typically put behind a pay wall, whether through exhibitions at museums or festivals around the country. I hope to also engage the community through educational discussion on how large scale art is designed and constructed.