Soma

Role: Fabrication lead of the dendrites arms, shop supply manager, casting assistant

Skills: Process engineering, metal fabrication, MIG welding, managing a team of 20+ volunteers, supply chain management, model building, sand casting, resin casting

Soma, a project by the public arts group The Flaming Lotus Girls, translates the anatomy of neurons into metal and light. Two massive stainless steel neurons interconnect, passing electrochemical signals represented as LED light patterns back and forth. The neurons’ 35 branching, tapered dendrites reach up to the sky and ground into the earth. I was responsible for managing the engineering and fabrication of a section of the sculpture, insuring it worked with the overall concept and aesthetic, as well as accommodated electrical components needed to run the LED patterns. The sculpture was installed at various events before landing on the San Francisco waterfront for two years. Since 2016 Soma has been on display in downtown Vallejo, CA.