BREATHE is sculpture, 9' x 22', commissioned for the grotto wall of a private residence in Dana Point, California. The artwork is homage to relationship; as a son may stand beside his father, BREATHE is bolted into the grotto wall.

Architecture by David B. Fink evoked gestural lines, intertwining and responsive. I drew during the initial site visit. Inspiration remained, and subsequent brushwork remained true to the origninal drawing. Brushwork became a 3-D model. The model was further worked into structure and form.

Three groups of gestural strokes rise up the grotto wall, interacting with adjacent architecture and viewing locations. Within each group, a primary mass accompanies a thin sweep. Each group includes a series of overlapping panels that progressively become closer to the wall. The work is viewed from three residential levels, and the layers are arranged accordingly. At the lowermost level, the panels are furthest from the wall. Masses take form and rise. At the residential entry level, the brushwork ascends – having already originated, bold colors rise upward. At the uppermost level, the brushwork concludes as if to occupy that place between positive and negative space. Hardware is a secondary articulated layer.

Tiers of standoffs and pins support all panels on one of five levels from the wall. Fixture arrays infer motion and rates of change, alluding to the timings of coming and going. Arced fixture positions structurally stabilize the panels. Sunlight enters through windows adjacent and above, and panels are arranged accordingly.

Project manufacturing included laser cut medium, hardware engineering, fixture fabrication, primer and paint spraying, hand working the paint finish, hardware painting, and full scale laser scribed templates that were laser cut to precise interlocking shapes for hole drilling templates. Hand-painting was completed after installation.

Christian Karl Janssen
Wood Janssen Incorporated
2009.09.10