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Campus Sculpture Tour Steven Haas
FLÄMBETA, 1999 Steven Haas’ integrated mobile Flämbeta energizes the south side of Noyce Science Center. Its red and yellow flames move slowly, flickering to brighten the otherwise white and wooden space. Its shadows interrupt the steady geometry of window frames, superimposing a wild silhouette onto the regular patterns of rectangles. Flämbeta evokes abstracted organic forms: a central yellow piece curves and sharpens sinuously, suggesting talons. Three sections of red emerge from this central section, echoing its curves but diverging into their own space. Fl ämbeta seems almost a set of ripples, continuously related but shifting parts of an original impression. And indeed, due to Haas’ careful construction, each piece relates independently to the whole—so that each may move in its own direction, depending upon the air flow of the building. That Haas’ mobiles find their space in the science building seems appropriate, as the form of a mobile requires an awareness of gravity, physics, and machinery. Haas writes, “A mobile is an artistic rendering of a simple machine; a free form combination of weights, levers, and fulcrums that convert an essentially two-dimensional object into a kinetic three-dimensional form” (artist statement). Haas’ mobiles combine delicate movement with technical expertise, resulting in pieces that enliven and inform Noyce Science Center. An exploration of space and structure, Flämbeta’s curves and colors combine delicate aesthetics and simple machines to form a complex shape and unique movement.About the Artist: Steven Haas’ sculptural work began with an interest in metallurgy in high school, and has progressed over 30 years toward a mastery of his tools and trade. In fact, over the course of his career, he has even created tools unique to him, including one object he refers to as his “secret tool,” which determines the point of balance on a vertical surface (“Art in Motion”). His mobiles and sculptures are in corporate, public, and private collections across North America and Europe. Essay by Christine Hancock ‘06
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| last updated 5/25/06 | Copyright © 2006 Grinnell College Grinnell, Iowa 50112 | 641-269-4660 |
